French farmers continue protests against EU-Mercosur free trade agreement

Farmers in France continued protesting on Thursday, the fourth day of mobilisation against a free trade agreement with Mercosur countries, while calling for a decent income.

Dozens of farmers mounted a procession of tractors from the Coordination Rurale du Lot-et-Garonne to block the Bordeaux commercial port at Bassens (Gironde).

Many also dumped tyres to block access to the large seaport where cereals are imported. “We'll stay as long as the Minister of Agriculture hasn't yet signed a paper within 15 days telling us: everyone is on same rules as all Europeans. We demand that at the very least," said a protester from the hardline Coordination Rurale (CR) union.

”They impose this product or that product on us and forbid other products, but these products are forbidden in our country whereas they are allowed in theirs. We then buy these products, which are not regulated, from abroad,” said another protester.

Coordination Rurale, a union linked to the far right, has promised an “agricultural revolt,” including food freight blockades beginning Tuesday in Auch and Agen in southwestern France.

They are one of several unions taking part in the protests in France in opposition to provisions such as duty-free imports of beef, poultry and sugar, which they say create unfair competition.

Proponents of the EU-Mercosur deal argue that it would significantly boost economic ties between Europe and South America by removing tariffs on European exports, notably for machinery, chemicals, and cars.

However, the free trade agreement is widely seen as not beneficial for the agricultural sector, thus dividing countries according to their own main interests.

Earlier this year, farmers staged protests across France and elsewhere in Europe opposing EU regulations, raising financial concerns, demanding fairer agricultural policies and opposing the trade agreement.

France's Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard has publicly opposed the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, citing risks of deforestation and health concerns linked to hormone-treated meat, while President Emmanuel Macron has also criticised the agreement unless South American producers meet EU standards.

The French farmers' unions say their demonstrations aim to pressure the French government and EU officials to block or renegotiate the agreement.