Mercosur Deal Talks Anger French Farmers, Protests Across France

Farmers across France staged protests on November 18 against a potential trade deal between Europe and Mercosur countries. The demonstrations included highway blockades near Paris as farmers voiced concerns about the deal’s impact on agriculture. President Macron reaffirmed his opposition to the Mercosur agreement, aligning with farmers’ criticisms of the deal. Michel-Edouard Leclerc, president of the E. Leclerc supermarket chain, supported farmers’ concerns, stating that the agreement was poorly negotiated and excluded key stakeholders. Protests are set to continue until mid-December, driven by fears that Mercosur imports could undercut EU products. Challenges like rain-hit harvests and livestock diseases have worsened the crisis for French farmers this year.