French farmers, environmental groups protest in Paris against EU - Mercosur deal

Hundreds of farmers staged a protest in Paris on Tuesday against the proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur.

The demonstration, organized by the agricultural union Confederation Paysanne, began at the Esplanade des Invalides and ended at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

Protesters carried banners, chanted slogans, and drove tractors in a show of opposition to the EU-Mercosur agreement which.

First negotiated in 2019, the agreement has faced growing opposition from European farmers and environmental groups, who argue it could harm domestic producers and accelerate deforestation in the Amazon.

The EU-Mercosur deal is hailed by the EU as "a win win-win for both the EU and Mercosur countries by creating opportunities for growth, jobs and sustainable development on both sides." 

The Mercosur countries include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, while the deal is expected to create the world's largest free trade zone for over 700 million consumers.

The EU is Mercosur's second-largest trading partner in goods, with exports of €57 billion in 2024. The EU accounts for a quarter of total Mercosur trade in services, with EU exports to the region amounting to €29 billion in 2023.  

The EU is also the biggest foreign investor in Mercosur, with a stock of €390 billion in 2023. While the relationship is substantial, both exporters and potential investors face barriers in Mercosur markets.

According to the EU, the goals of the new trade deal include increasing  bilateral trade and investment, and lowering tariff and non-tariff trade barriers - notably for small and medium-sized enterprises. 

In a statement released on its trade and policy website, it also said the deal would crate more stable and predictable rules for trade and investment through better and stronger rules in the area of

• Intellectual property rights (including geographical indications)
• Food safety standards
• Competition and good regulatory practices 

It also said it would promote shared values and sustainable development, including by strengthening worker’s rights, fighting climate change, ensuring environmental protection, and encouraging responsible business conduct.

The deal also includes protections for 344 EU geographical indications, limits on sensitive agricultural imports such as beef and poultry, and robust safeguards against import surges, supplemented by a proposed legal act to address farmers' concerns.

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