French farmers steered some 350 tractors through Paris on Tuesday to protest low incomes and an EU trade deal with South America they say threatens their livelihoods.
The tractors entered Paris shortly after 6 am through Porte Dauphine, escorted by police, and rumbled down Avenue Foch toward the Arc de Triomphe before driving along the Champs-Elysées.
The convoy crossed the Seine River to reach the National Assembly, snarling rush-hour traffic.
The protests were led by the FNSEA farmers’ union and Jeunes Agriculteurs or Young Farmers, demanding “concrete and immediate action” to defend France’s food security.
The demonstrations came days before the final signing of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, scheduled for Saturday in Paraguay. The deal would create a free trade area between the EU and Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
‘Too many rules kill rules’
European farmers have long denounced the Mercosur agreement, arguing it would flood markets with cheaper imports. The deal was approved Friday by a qualified majority of EU member states despite opposition from France, Poland, Austria, Hungary and Ireland.
President Emmanuel Macron and his government oppose the trade deal but it is expected to be signed anyway because most other EU countries support it.
“If we want to keep our food sovereignty, we should be allowed to practise our profession,” said Fabrice Moulin, a cereal farmer in Eure. “We’re not in favour of anarchy, but too many rules kill rules. Today, we can no longer make a living from our activity.”
“French livestock farming must take precedence over Brazilian livestock farming,” said Baptiste Zado, who runs a mixed crop and livestock farm in Yvelines.
Signs on tractors read “No country without farmers” and “No farmers means no food”.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said Tuesday the government would make new announcements soon to help farmers.
“Dialogue and exchanges are continuing,” she said, particularly on “transmission, the question of income, the question of water and adaptation to climate change.”
‘Deep’ anger, ‘legitimate’ demands
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard acknowledged Friday that farmers’ anger was “deep” and their demands “legitimate”.
She announced €300 million in measures to help cereal growers, winegrowers and livestock farmers, but the package was not enough to quell protests and is largely dependent on adoption of the 2026 budget.
Farmers have set up filtering operations and blockades in Le Havre, France’s leading commercial port, as well as in Bayonne and La Rochelle.
Since the weekend, farmers have been checking refrigerated lorries at the port to verify product origins.
Justin Lemaître, general secretary of Jeunes Agriculteurs in Seine-Maritime, said checks identified “foreign flour, soups with Thai vegetables, products that do not have the same production standards” as in France.
The Interior Ministry reported 55 actions in 31 departements involving 2,400 people and 1,000 vehicles.
The Concorde bridge and Quai d’Orsay remained closed to traffic Tuesday. A rally was held on Quai d’Orsay.
