French farmers protest EU-Mercosur trade deal

French farmers launched widespread protests across multiple cities, expressing strong opposition to the proposed trade deal between the European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc. In Limoges, demonstrators burned hay and dumped liquid manure outside the local prefecture, while farmers in Agen blocked streets with tires and tractors.

The protests come as the EU and Mercosur members - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay - aim to finalize long-standing trade negotiations by year's end. These demonstrations follow earlier protests from last winter over similar concerns about imports, regulations, and low farmer incomes.

French agricultural workers are particularly concerned that the Mercosur agreement would flood European markets with beef, chicken, sugar, and maize from Brazil and Argentina. They argue that these South American producers use agricultural practices, including pesticides and growth antibiotics, that are banned in Europe, creating unfair competition.

Despite President Emmanuel Macron's stated opposition to the current form of the Mercosur deal, French farmers remain skeptical. France's isolated position within the EU regarding these trade talks has heightened concerns that farmers' interests may not be adequately protected.

The FNSEA, France's main farmers union, has announced that protests will continue into December. Jose Perez, co-president of the CR47 farmers group, emphasized widespread opposition to the deal across European farming communities, suggesting the resistance extends beyond French borders.

The ongoing demonstrations highlight the deepening rift between EU trade ambitions and the concerns of its agricultural sector, with French authorities facing challenges in addressing farmers' grievances.