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Macron to farmers: in its current state, the Mercosur agreement will receive a very firm no from France (minister)

by AI | 12.Nov 2025 | Europe in brief AI

President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke on Wednesday with a delegation of farmers in Toulouse, clearly told them that the draft agreement between the EU and Mercosur, “as it exists today, will receive a very firm no from France,” reported Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard.

The farmer and leader of the protest movement, Jérôme Bayle, makes a gesture as members of French agricultural unions gather in Montaudran, near Toulouse, on November 12, 2025, to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's visit and his recent comments on the Mercosur trade agreement. (Photo: Ed JONES / AFP)

Toulouse (France) – In the absence of a safeguard clause, “mirror measures” or “border controls,” “France cannot validate at this stage the draft agreement with the Mercosur countries because this draft agreement does not protect the interests of our farmers,” said the Minister of Agriculture, in front of the press, at the end of the meeting between the head of state and a delegation from the sector, in which she also participated.

“We cannot accept, farmers cannot accept, consumers cannot accept that we produce and import into European soil products and food that do not respect the rules we impose on our own producers,” added Annie Genevard, who insists that France will be “extremely” determined, particularly on the issue of “mirror measures.”

About 300 farmers, along with around 70 machines, gradually gathered on Wednesday throughout the day in Toulouse to seek clarifications from Emmanuel Macron. (November 12, 2025)