French Farmers to Resume Nationwide Protests Amid EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Concerns
Source: DairyNews.today
France’s largest farmers’ union, FNSEA, has announced plans for nationwide protests starting in mid-November as discontent grows over ongoing trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur countries.
The union's president, Arnaud Rousseau, expressed concern about the potential conclusion of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, which French farmers fear could flood the market with cheaper agricultural imports that do not adhere to EU production standards.
The protests are driven by growing frustration over competition fr om low-cost imports, including from Ukraine, as well as increasing regulatory burdens on EU producers. These issues have already sparked large-scale demonstrations across France and Europe earlier this year.
Adding to the grievances are weather-affected harvests, livestock disease outbreaks, and political stalemates following France’s snap election in the summer. The FNSEA’s planned protests will follow recent local demonstrations and echo previous actions from January and February, wh ere farmers blocked roads with tractors and set fire to bales of hay.
While details of the upcoming protests are yet to be finalized, Rousseau pointed to the renewed "incoherency at the European level" as the main trigger, citing recent signals that the Mercosur deal may soon be finalized. Brazil, a key Mercosur member, has indicated it is ready to sign the agreement in November when it hosts a meeting of major economies.
French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly opposed the conclusion of the trade deal, voicing concerns about the impact on local agriculture. However, with negotiations reportedly progressing, French farmers are preparing to renew their opposition through mass protests in the coming weeks.
The protests are driven by growing frustration over competition fr om low-cost imports, including from Ukraine, as well as increasing regulatory burdens on EU producers. These issues have already sparked large-scale demonstrations across France and Europe earlier this year.
Adding to the grievances are weather-affected harvests, livestock disease outbreaks, and political stalemates following France’s snap election in the summer. The FNSEA’s planned protests will follow recent local demonstrations and echo previous actions from January and February, wh ere farmers blocked roads with tractors and set fire to bales of hay.
While details of the upcoming protests are yet to be finalized, Rousseau pointed to the renewed "incoherency at the European level" as the main trigger, citing recent signals that the Mercosur deal may soon be finalized. Brazil, a key Mercosur member, has indicated it is ready to sign the agreement in November when it hosts a meeting of major economies.
French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly opposed the conclusion of the trade deal, voicing concerns about the impact on local agriculture. However, with negotiations reportedly progressing, French farmers are preparing to renew their opposition through mass protests in the coming weeks.
