French farmers mobilizing for nationwide protests next month

France’s main farmers’ union has announced plans for nationwide protests next month amid growing dissatisfaction with attempts to finalize a trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur countries.

Anger over competition from cheaper imports, including from EU ally Ukraine, and regulatory burdens on EU producers have led to widespread protests in France and Europe, News.Az reported, citing Reuters.

Poor harvests and livestock disease outbreaks, as well as political impasse following early summer elections, have fueled discontent among French farmers, sparking fresh local protests in recent weeks.

The FNSEA union will hold nationwide protests from mid-November, with the date and type of action to be determined later, its president Arnaud Rousseau told reporters.

“The new factor and trigger is the renewed inconsistency at the European level, as evidenced by the thinly disguised explanation that we are eventually going to sign the Mercosur agreement,” he said.

Activities in the last major round of protests in January and February included tractors blocking roads and hay bales being set on fire.

Sources told Reuters in September that talks appeared to be heading towards a positive conclusion to trade talks before the end of the year, and Mercosur member Brazil said it was ready to sign an agreement in November when it hosts a meeting of major economies.

French farmers fear the agreement with the South American bloc will lead to an influx of cheaper agricultural goods that do not meet EU production standards. French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly opposed the trade deal.

News.Az