2 days Ago By RFI
French farmers staged fresh protests on Tuesday against a proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc, comprising four South American nations. While the French government has voiced strong opposition to the deal, the protesters are urging President Emmanuel Macron to take stronger action to protect their interests. The deal, which would establish the world’s largest free trade zone, has become a flashpoint for growing dissatisfaction in the farming sector.
On Tuesday morning, more than 100 farmers set off from Beziers, a town in southern France, heading towards the French-Spanish border near Perpignan. Their goal is to block traffic along major highways for several days. As the convoy made its way along the A9 motorway, the procession included around 100 vehicles, among them six tractors.
In Narbonne, they were joined by a dozen more cars. Meanwhile, in Bordeaux, about 30 tractors gathered outside the regional authority’s headquarters, a symbol of the growing unrest in rural areas. Despite the French government’s vocal opposition to the deal, farmers say President Emmanuel Macron and his administration are not doing enough to address their concerns.
The protests, which began earlier this year, are now gaining momentum, with many in the agricultural community accusing the government of failing to deliver promised support. French farmers complain about excessive bureaucracy, low incomes and poor harvests. Read also:.
