Farmers block Warsaw streets as protest erupts over EU–Mercosur deal

A farmers’ demonstration is underway in Warsaw in opposition to the EU’s trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc.

The protest began at Parade Square and is set to proceed toward the Sejm and the Prime Minister’s Chancellery. Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, is scheduled to meet with the protesting farmers at 10:00 local time.

Polish media reports that multiple streets in the city centre have been closed to traffic. Public transport has been redirected to alternative routes, and tractors are prohibited from entering the downtown area. Authorities have cautioned that violations of this ban may lead to fines.

The EU-Mercosur agreement, concluded in December 2024, provides duty-free access for 99,000 tonnes of beef, 180,000 tonnes of poultry, and 300,000 tonnes of sugar annually, with quota volumes expanding over a five-year period. Under the terms of the pact, Brazilian beef receives an initial 125,000-tonne allocation, rising to 550,000 tonnes by the end of the implementation phase. Argentina is granted a 55,000-tonne quota aligned with its export objectives.

Safeguard mechanisms are included to introduce automatic quota activation when imports rise 25 percent above baseline levels. EU agricultural ministers approved the agreement’s text on December 17, 2025, via qualified majority voting. Poland, France, Italy, and Austria abstained. The European Parliament will open its plenary ratification debate on January 22, with adoption requiring 376 votes—the threshold for a plenary majority.

Law and Justice outlined the reasoning behind the Polish farmers’ protest. In a post on X, the party stated:

“PiS MEP @PiotrMuller: Why are farmers taking to the streets of Warsaw on 9 January? The march is not just any farmers’ protest; it is a fight for what ends up on our tables. The EU–Mercosur trade agreement will open the Polish market to cheap food from South America, produced using pesticides banned in Europe, and without the strict standards that our farmers are required to meet The main threats you need to know about A flood of cheap beef and poultry: Unfair competition from enormous farms will destroy Polish family farms.

Lower food standards: Products from countries where the use of agricultural chemicals is permitted at much higher levels will enter Europe. Collapse of food security: If Polish production collapses, we will become dependent on imports, which in times of crisis poses a huge risk for all of us. Farmers are fighting for dignified work, and we are fighting for healthy, Polish food. Let’s not allow the profits of big corporations to win over the Polish countryside!”

By Tamilla Hasanova