French Farmers Protest Against EU-Mercosur Trade Deal in Paris
In a pre-dawn protest on Thursday, hundreds of French farmers, organized by the Coordination Rurale union, occupied key points in Paris with their tractors, expressing their discontent over the imminent signing of the commercial agreement between the European Union and Mercosul. The protest saw tractors overrun police checkpoints and blockade motorways, culminating in a hostile reception for Yaël Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly.
The Protest and its Background
The farmers, numbering 670 according to the Ministry of the Interior, blocked roads around the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, and even parked in front of the Palais-Bourbon, the French parliament. The French government labelled the farmers' action as illegal, while Vinci reported blockages on the A7, A9, A20 and A61 highways.
The protest is rooted in the farmers' fear that the EU-Mercosur deal, which would create the world's largest free-trade area, would expose them to unfair competition from cheaper South American goods.
Key Developments
As tensions escalated, Braun-Pivet was jeered upon exiting the Palais-Bourbon. She was also the target of a projectile before being evacuated due to the crowd. In response to the farmers' demands for a meeting, Braun-Pivet announced a meeting with agricultural union representatives at 2:00 PM. Bertrand Venteau, the president of the Coordination Rurale, was later received by Braun-Pivet.
The French farmers' protest comes amidst the EU's move to finalize the Mercosur trade agreement with South American countries, despite opposition from farmers in multiple member states. On January 6 and 7, new concessions were announced by the Commission to the agricultural world, which lifted Italian reservations about the deal. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to sign the trade agreement with South American countries on Monday.
Reactions and Implications
The French farmers' protest against the EU-Mercosur agreement is emblematic of the discontent among farmers across several EU member states. The fear is that the deal, by creating the world's largest free-trade area, would undercut European farmers with cheaper goods from South America.
The protest also raises questions about France's stance on the deal. The French government has yet to clearly express its position on the agreement, which is set to be signed with or without its support.
Current Status
As of the latest reports, the tractors from the Rural Coordination have left Paris, with the farmers hoping for quick announcements from the government. The outcome of the meeting between the agricultural union representatives and Braun-Pivet is yet to be revealed. The finalization of the EU-Mercosur agreement, meanwhile, is set to proceed as planned.