FRENCH farmers drove tractors into Paris yesterday for the second time in a week to protest against an EU-Mercosur trade deal they say threatens local agriculture by creating unfair competition with cheaper South American imports.
Farmers in France, the European Union’s largest agricultural producer, and other member states have been protesting for months over the EU-Mercosur deal and numerous local grievances.
The demonstration yesterday was organised by the FNSEA, which is one of France’s largest farm unions. A separate farmers’ union, the Coordination Rurale, had already brought tractors below the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe last Thursday in a surprise demonstration.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced on X he has asked the agriculture minister to prepare an “emergency bill” targeting water, wolf attacks on herds and production issues, many of which were highlighted by the FNSEA.
The government will also propose fiscal measures, including enhanced precautionary savings and support for farmers to better cope with economic shocks.
However, Lecornu emphasised these measures will only take effect once a budget is adopted.
France faces challenges passing its delayed 2026 budget through a divided parliament, with lawmakers due to resume discussions this week.
The Paris police said it estimated around 350 tractors were at yesterday’s demonstration. Tractors had converged again by the Arc de Triomphe and continued to the French parliament building, in front of which some farmers dumped several metric tonnes of potatoes.
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