PARIS — In a dramatic display of agricultural dissent, approximately one hundred tractors converged upon the French capital on Thursday as farmers launched a major protest against the European Union’s proposed free trade agreement with Mercosur nations. The demonstration, organized by the Rural Coordination union, saw farmers defy government bans by positioning agricultural vehicles at iconic locations including the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower neighborhoods.
The protest targets the EU’s renewed negotiations with five South American countries—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia—amid speculation that a deal could be finalized during a January 12 meeting in Paraguay. French agricultural representatives argue the agreement would devastate local farming sectors by exposing them to unfair competition from countries with less stringent production standards.
José Perez, president of the Rural Coordination in southwestern France’s Lot-et-Garonne region, stated the mobilization aimed to bring farmers’ concerns directly to policymakers. ‘The goal today is to come to Paris to express our demands closer to those who have the power,’ Perez told The Associated Press, describing the tractor procession as ‘a strong symbol’ of agricultural discontent.
Despite government efforts to restrict tractor access to central Paris, protestors managed to bypass security barriers, though most vehicles were ultimately contained at major traffic arteries marking the city’s perimeter. The French Interior Ministry confirmed approximately 20 tractors reached central Paris despite an official prohibition.
The demonstration combines longstanding opposition to the Mercosur agreement with recent frustrations over government sanitary measures addressing bovine disease outbreaks. French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard reiterated the nation’s firm opposition to the trade deal on Wednesday, warning it threatens numerous agricultural sectors including beef, chicken, sugar, ethanol, and honey production.
While Germany leads supporter nations pushing for the agreement’s adoption, France and Poland remain its most vocal opponents within the EU. Previous French opposition successfully stalled the agreement last month, though renewed negotiations have intensified concerns among farming communities about the deal’s potential implementation.