French farmers have taken to the streets in a massive protest against an upcoming EU trade deal with South American countries. Tractors clogged roads outside Paris, including areas around iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, as hundreds of farmers attempted to make their voices heard.
The farmers' actions were organized by the Coordination Rurale union and are part of a larger campaign against the Mercosur trade pact, which would create a massive common market spanning nearly 800 million people. The deal is seen as a threat to European agricultural interests, with many fearing cheaper imports from South America could put them out of business.
According to Stéphane Pelletier, a senior member of the Coordination Rurale union, farmers feel "abandoned" by EU leaders and are between "resignation and despair." The French government has warned that blocking roads or attempting to gather in front of parliament is illegal but seems powerless to stop the protests.
French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that he will vote against the deal, citing a "unanimous political rejection" among French citizens. However, it remains unclear whether this will be enough to block the agreement outright.
The EU and Mercosur blocs have been negotiating the trade deal for over 26 years, with talks given added momentum by the Trump administration's protectionist agenda and China's growing influence in global trade.
Under the accord, South American countries would cut tariffs on European goods such as cars, clothes, food, fine wines, and medicines. In return, the EU would open its markets to increased imports of beef, pork, ethanol, honey, and sugar. The commission has proposed an extra €45 billion of EU funding for farmers in the next seven-year budget, which appears to have won over Italy's support.
However, it remains to be seen whether France will have sufficient backing to block the deal outright. With a qualified majority system in place, the agreement could be approved by 15 of the 27 member states representing 65% of the population – a threshold that seems unlikely to be met without significant opposition from other countries like Poland and Hungary.
The fate of the Mercosur trade deal hangs in the balance as EU member states prepare to vote on Friday. For French farmers, the outcome is personal – their livelihoods and way of life are on the line.
The farmers' actions were organized by the Coordination Rurale union and are part of a larger campaign against the Mercosur trade pact, which would create a massive common market spanning nearly 800 million people. The deal is seen as a threat to European agricultural interests, with many fearing cheaper imports from South America could put them out of business.
According to Stéphane Pelletier, a senior member of the Coordination Rurale union, farmers feel "abandoned" by EU leaders and are between "resignation and despair." The French government has warned that blocking roads or attempting to gather in front of parliament is illegal but seems powerless to stop the protests.
French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that he will vote against the deal, citing a "unanimous political rejection" among French citizens. However, it remains unclear whether this will be enough to block the agreement outright.
The EU and Mercosur blocs have been negotiating the trade deal for over 26 years, with talks given added momentum by the Trump administration's protectionist agenda and China's growing influence in global trade.
Under the accord, South American countries would cut tariffs on European goods such as cars, clothes, food, fine wines, and medicines. In return, the EU would open its markets to increased imports of beef, pork, ethanol, honey, and sugar. The commission has proposed an extra €45 billion of EU funding for farmers in the next seven-year budget, which appears to have won over Italy's support.
However, it remains to be seen whether France will have sufficient backing to block the deal outright. With a qualified majority system in place, the agreement could be approved by 15 of the 27 member states representing 65% of the population – a threshold that seems unlikely to be met without significant opposition from other countries like Poland and Hungary.
The fate of the Mercosur trade deal hangs in the balance as EU member states prepare to vote on Friday. For French farmers, the outcome is personal – their livelihoods and way of life are on the line.
that French farmers are protesting about cheaper imports from South America... I mean, who wouldn't want lower prices for their bread and cheese? 
It's not like they're just trying to cling to an outdated agricultural industry or anything. And good luck with blocking roads, I'm sure the authorities will be totally understanding 
. On a more serious note, it's actually kinda cool that Macron is supporting them, but we'll see how far his "unanimous political rejection" goes 
.
Can you imagine tractors outside the Eiffel Tower? I mean, it's like something out of a cartoon! 
"Help, we're stuck in Paris!" 
The EU farmers are really making a statement – no pun intended! 
I feel bad for them, but at the same time, I get why they're fighting – who wouldn't want to protect their business? 
It's crazy how passionate these French farmers are about this trade deal! I mean, it's not just about numbers and economics, they're talking about their entire existence. The EU has to listen to them, you know? 
I'm interesting in seeing how this plays out on Friday... will the deal get blocked or what? 
French farmers are going wild! 
. Italy's support for the deal is also a big factor, considering their agricultural industry is huge 
.
they're literally fighting for their lives here! it's crazy how much power the EU has over their lives and now they feel like their voices aren't being heard 
. i think it's amazing that macron is stepping up and voting against the deal, but honestly idk if it'll make a difference 
but if not...oh man 
it's like they're literally losing their way of life here 
.