French farmers brought tractors into Paris on Sunday for the second time in a week to protest against the EU-Mercosur trade deal, which they say threatens local agriculture by creating unfair competition with cheaper imports from South America. Farmers in France, the European Union's largest agricultural producer, and other member states have been protesting for months over the EU-Mercosur deal and numerous other local issues.
French farmers hold a banner that reads "The peasant uprising resumes in Versailles!"
Today's demonstration has been organized by FNSEA, one of France's largest agricultural unions.
"The Mercosur agreement was approved without the European Parliament being consulted. It will lead to imports of foreign goods that we can perfectly well produce in France and which do not respect the standards imposed on French agriculture," said Damien Greffin, vice-president of the FNSEA and a farmer in the Paris region.
Greven said the farmers will demonstrate today in front of the French parliament and also plan to demonstrate on January 20 in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The approval, on Friday, of the agreement with Mercosur by most EU member states, despite its rejection by France, has intensified pressure on the government from farmers and opposition parties, some of which have filed motions of no confidence.
Another farmers' union, the Agrarian Coordination, had already brought tractors under the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe last Thursday, in a surprise demonstration.
