French farmers protest EU-Mercosur trade deal in Paris

Hundreds of French farmers staged large-scale protests in Paris and across the country on January 8 to oppose the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Organized by Coordination Rurale, the demonstrations involved approximately 2,200 farmers and 625 tractors across 39 departments. Despite police prohibitions, some tractors reached landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower before protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly.

The farmers are demanding stronger protections for domestic agriculture, fearing that the deal with Mercosur nations—Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay—will allow an influx of cheaper beef, poultry, and sugar produced under different environmental and animal welfare standards. They also criticized the government's handling of a contagious bovine disease outbreak.

During the demonstration, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet was booed by the crowd. President Emmanuel Macron stated that France will oppose the agreement ahead of a decisive European vote. While Coordination Rurale called for an end to the demonstrations on the same day, the organization noted that the struggle is far from over.