French farmers stage new Paris protest in bid to halt Mercosur deal

PARIS – French farmers drove tractors into Paris on Jan 13 for the second time in a week to protest against an EU-Mercosur trade deal they say threatens local agriculture by creating unfair competition with cheaper South American imports.

Farmers in France, the European Union’s largest agricultural producer, and other member states have been protesting for months over the EU-Mercosur deal and numerous local grievances.

The landmark trade deal between the European Union and four countries of the Mercosur trade bloc – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay – paves the way to create one of the world’s largest free trade areas covering more than 700 million people.

The demonstration on Jan 13 was organised by the FNSEA, which is one of France’s largest farm unions.

The Paris police said it estimated around 350 tractors at the demonstration. One convoy of tractors had converged by the Arc de Triomphe, while another convoy arrived by the French Parliament building.

“The Mercosur agreement was approved even though the European Parliament hasn’t had its say. This is going to lead to imports of foreign goods that we are perfectly able to produce in France and that don’t respect standards which are imposed on French farming,” said Mr Damien Greffin, vice-president of the FNSEA and a farmer from the Paris region.

Mr Greffin said farmers would protest in front of the French Parliament on Jan 13, and were also planning to demonstrate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Jan 20.

The Mercosur deal’s approval by most EU states on Jan 9, despite France’s rejection, has intensified pressure on the government from farmers and opposition parties, some of which have filed no-confidence motions.

A separate farmers’ union, the Coordination Rurale, had already brought tractors below the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe on Jan 8 in a surprise demonstration. REUTERS