French farmers protest against unfair competition

On January 5, farmers launched convoys in an attempt to block roads around Paris, protesting what they claim is unfair foreign competition and excessive regulation.

As the largest agricultural producer in the European Union, French farmers spearheaded protests across Europe at the beginning of 2024, although these demonstrations gradually lost momentum as the year progressed, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Last month, the EU and South American nations in the Mercosur bloc reached a preliminary agreement on a free trade deal, which has reignited opposition among French farmers to the Mercosur agreement. Additionally, French farmers continue to voice dissatisfaction with regulations they argue are damaging their profits. On January 13, farming union representatives are scheduled to meet with French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou to raise their concerns.

"They don't understand the level of misery and distress that farmers are going through at the moment," Amelie Rebiere, vice-president of the Coordination Rurale farming trade union, told BFM TV.

Supporters of the EU's Mercosur deal, including Germany, argue that it provides a means to lessen dependence on trade with China and shields EU countries from the trade tariffs threatened by US President-elect Donald Trump.

However, many European farmers, particularly those from France, have consistently opposed the deal, claiming it would result in the influx of inexpensive South American goods, especially beef, that fail to meet EU safety standards. 

Earlier, French farmers intensified their protests against the ongoing European Union-Mercosur trade negotiations, expressing concerns over unfair competition. With support from their government, they argue that the deal could jeopardize their livelihoods by allowing a flood of South American agricultural imports produced under looser environmental regulations.

In Beauvais, northern France, dozens of farmers with around 50 tractors blocked traffic and barricaded a government office responsible for enforcing environmental standards. The protesters dumped manure and tires in front of the building before moving to the local prefecture, where they set up a noisy camp and set off firecrackers.

By Naila Huseynova