Farmers are protesting across France on Monday as the prospect of a trade deal between European nations and Mercosur countries intensifies resentment over foreign competition that sparked a crisis in the agricultural sector earlier this year.
The drive by the European Union and South American market Mercosur to finalise lengthy trade talks before the end of the year has reignited anger in France. Similar discontent was voiced by farmers across Europe this winter following a surge in imports from Ukraine.
But the atmosphere in France has become even more heated after crops have been hit by rain, outbreaks of livestock disease and parliamentary elections that have postponed measures promised in the wake of previous protests in which farmers blocked motorways. Farmer Armel Freture said:
“We have the same demands as in January, nothing has changed. We have to make the government realise that we have had enough.”
Arnaud Rousseau, head of the French farmers’ union (FNSEA), told BFM TV on Sunday:
“At a time when farmers are facing cheap imports, onerous regulations and meagre incomes, the Mercosur deal will be the bitter cherry on the cake.”
He also said tens of thousands of farms in France were in financial difficulty. French farmers fear the agreement with Mercosur will lead to increased supplies of beef, chicken, sugar and corn from Brazil and Argentina – countries they say use pesticides on crops and antibiotics on cattle that are banned in Europe. Rousseau noted:
“Farmers will hold rallies today and tomorrow, mostly in front of government buildings, as part of protests planned until mid-December.”
Ahead of the nationwide action last night, a small group of farmers with tractors blocked one side of a motorway near Paris, displaying placards with slogans saying:
“Let’s not import products we don’t need.”
President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday spoke out against the proposed agreement with Mercosur. But since France has no allies in the EU to negotiate on the issue and rural discontent is quite high, it may be difficult for the authorities to appease farmers. Freute said:
“We know we are going out (to protest) but we don’t know when we will go back in.”
What is the Mercosur agreement?
The agreement is between the European Union and a South American economic alliance called Mercosur. It includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia and envisages the creation of the world’s largest free trade zone, which will cover 700 million people.
While the deal aims to reduce tariffs and boost trade, French farmers have long expressed fears that the Mercosur agreement will increase shipments of beef, chicken, sugar and corn from Brazil and Argentina to Europe, reducing their incomes.
In addition, they say, these countries use pesticides on crops and antibiotics to raise livestock, which are banned in Europe.
