French farmers continued their protests on Thursday, marking the fourth day of mobilizations against the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.
The protests are driven by concerns that the deal, which aims to eliminate tariffs on exports like machinery, chemicals, and cars, would harm the agricultural sector.
Farmers, organized by the Coordination Rurale du Lot-et-Garonne, used tractors to block the Bordeaux commercial port at Bassens in Gironde, and some protesters dumped tyres to block access to the port 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 one protester from the hardline Coordination Rurale (CR) union.
Coordination Rurale has pledged an “agricultural revolt,” which includes planned food freight blockades in southwestern France. Several unions are joining the protests, opposing the duty-free imports of beef, poultry, and sugar, which they argue create unfair competition for local farmers.
While proponents of the EU-Mercosur deal highlight its potential to boost economic ties between Europe and South America, particularly through the removal of tariffs on European exports, the agreement is heavily criticized for its impact on agriculture. Farmers fear it will lead to unfair competition from South American producers, particularly regarding products not subject to the same regulations.
