Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.Paris (dpa) – French farmers staged protests on Sunday opposing a proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American economic alliance Mercosur, citing environmental and economic concerns.
Arnaud Rousseau, leader of the French agricultural union Fédération nationale des syndicats d’exploitants agricoles (FNSEA), criticised the agreement, arguing that it fails to align with the Paris Climate Agreement and does not guarantee equal production standards.
“We are against the conclusion of an unbalanced treaty likely to destroy part of the French agricultural sector,” Rousseau told the French weekly financial newspaper La Tribune Dimanche.
The EU-Mercosur deal, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and Bolivia, seeks to establish one of the world’s largest free trade zones, encompassing over 700 million people. Its primary aim is to lower tariffs and boost trade.
French President Emmanuel Macron, currently touring Latin America, has also expressed concerns about the agreement. After meeting Argentine President Javier Milei, Macron said that France would not approve the agreement in its current form, reiterating his longstanding opposition to the treaty.
French farmers have long expressed frustration with declining incomes, stringent EU environmental regulations and what they see as excessive government demands. Earlier this year, demonstrations included motorway blockades, leading the government to promise broad support.
However, FNSEA leader Rousseau claims only minimal action has been taken, leaving farmers dissatisfied and determined to escalate their efforts.
The unions FNSEA and Jeunes Agriculteurs have announced nationwide protests for Monday and Tuesday, with planned actions in 80 of France’s around 100 departments, according to the French daily newspaper Le Parisien. (18 November)
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