French farmers have driven hundreds of tractors into Paris in a renewed protest against an EU-Mercosur trade agreement they say threatens domestic agriculture by allowing cheaper South American imports.
The demonstration on Tuesday was the second in a week and was organised by the FNSEA, one of France’s largest farming unions.
Protesters gathered around the National Assembly and near the Arc de Triomphe, with police estimating that about 350 tractors took part.
Farmers in France, the European Union’s biggest agricultural producer, and in other EU states have been protesting for months against the Mercosur deal, as well as over wider concerns about prices, standards and competition.
Another farmers’ group, the Coordination Rurale, staged a surprise protest last Thursday, bringing tractors beneath the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
Damien Greffin, vice-president of the FNSEA and head of the union in the Paris region, said the agreement would allow imports of goods that French farmers could already produce but under stricter rules.
"The Mercosur agreement was approved even though the European Parliament has not yet had its say," he said. "This will lead to imports that do not respect the standards imposed on French farming."
He warned that imports of products such as beef, ethanol, sugar and alcohol from countries including Argentina and Brazil could undermine France’s agricultural capacity.
"When we close our sugar refineries and slaughterhouses, we may one day realise we can no longer feed the French people," Greffin said. "This is a fight for farmers, but also for society as a whole."
Greffin added that farmers were planning another demonstration at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 20 January.
The protests come after most EU member states approved the Mercosur deal last Friday, despite opposition from France. The decision has increased pressure on the French government from farmers and opposition parties, some of which have submitted no-confidence motions.
Web Summit Qatar 2026 opened in Doha on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands of founders, investors, policymakers and technology leaders to what organise...
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 Feb...
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections w...
Kazakhstan’s Reform Commission has published a draft of a new Constitution that would mark the most extensive revision of the country’s law since ...
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating...
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanar touched on the outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Slovakia.
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen agricultural cooperation as Afghan officials seek to expand export routes and support struggling farmers across the country.
Greek farmers clashed with police on Sunday during protests in central and northern regions over the delayed payment of European Union subsidies.
President Emomali Rahmon has warned of the severe impact of climate change on Tajikistan’s food security, noting that in 2025 the yields of several agricultural crops have fallen by almost fifty percent.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any U.S. military attack on Iran would spark a wider regional conflict, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
U.S. president Donald Trump said Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States and expressed hope that negotiations could lead to an outcome acceptable to Washington.
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 February, after the meeting was postponed last week to align the schedules of all delegations.
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections would not override EU law.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating “undesirable leaders” in Africa, claiming that Paris is pursuing a political comeback after losing ground in several former colonies.
Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar are trying to organise a meeting in Ankara between White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and top Iranian officials, according to reports in the U.S. and Turkish media.
German authorities have arrested five people suspected of running a criminal network to circumvent European Union sanctions by exporting goods to at least 24 sanctioned Russian defence companies, the federal prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment