Farmers will protest across France on Monday as the prospect of a trade deal between European nations and Mercosur deepens resentment over foreign competition that fueled a farming crisis earlier this year.
The push by the European Union and South American bloc Mercosur to end years-long trade talks by the end of the year has reignited anger in France.
Such a disappointment it was voiced by farmers across Europe last winter after imports from Ukraine surged following Russia’s invasion.
But the mood in France has soured further after rain-hit crops, livestock disease outbreaks and parliamentary elections have delayed measures promised to quell previous protests that saw farmers block highways for weeks.
“We have the same demands as in January, nothing has changed,” Armel Frature said at his dairy farm north of Paris.
With farmers facing cheaper imports, burdensome regulations and meager incomes, a Mercosur deal would be a bitter “icing on the cake”, Arnaud Rousseau, head of France’s main farmers’ union, FNSEA, told BFM TV on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of farms in France, the EU’s biggest agricultural producer, are in financial trouble, he said.
French farmers fear the Mercosur deal will bring more beef, chicken, sugar and corn from Brazil and Argentina, countries they say use pesticides on crops and antibiotics to grow livestock that are banned in Europe.
Farmers will hold rallies on Monday and Tuesday, mostly in front of government buildings, as part of protests planned through mid-December, Russo said.
Ahead of the nationwide action, a small group of farmers with tractors blocked one side of a highway near Paris on Sunday night, displaying slogans such as “Let’s not import the agriculture we don’t want.”
President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on Sunday his opposition to the proposed Mercosur deal.
#French #farmers #revolted #reason
How might the trade deal between European nations and Mercosur reshape the balance between local agriculture and imported goods in France?
1. As European nations and Mercosur are preparing to close a trade deal, French farmers are planning protests against the potential influx of foreign goods. How do you think this event will impact the agricultural industry in France, both positively and negatively?
2. Can you provide more information about the specific concerns that French farmers have regarding the agricultural practices in Brazil and Argentina? Are there any potential solutions that could address these concerns and still allow for trade to proceed?
3. Many farmers across Europe have voiced their disappointment in the response to previous protests over foreign competition. What do you think needs to be done to better support the agricultural industry in France and throughout Europe?
4. The financial struggles faced by French farms have been widely reported. In your opinion, what are the underlying causes of this crisis, and how can they be addressed?
5. What role do French consumers play in the future of the agricultural industry? Should they be more aware of the impact of their food choices on local farmers, and if so, how can this awareness be raised?
