French Farmers Roll Tractors Into Paris To Protest EU Mercosur Trade Deal

Last Updated:January 08, 2026, 16:59 IST

French farmers protested in Paris against the EU-Mercosur deal, fearing it threatens their livelihoods and favors German and Spanish industries.

French farmers have rolled into Paris on tractors in a show of anger against an EU trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur. (AFP/X)

Farmers rolled into Paris on tractors on Thursday to protest against the European Union’s plan for a free trade deal with five South American nations, the French Interior Ministry said.

According to Associated Press, the French farmers for years has denounced the trade deal with the Mercosur nations of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, arguing that the deal would hurt French farmers’ livelihoods.

During the Thursday’s protest, staged by the Rural Coordination union, the farmers in tractors arrived before dawn and drove through Paris, with some pausing at the Eiffel Tower and others at the Arc de Triomphe.

One of the tractors had the message “No To Mercosur", referring to the deal with four South American nations.

José Perez, President of the Rural Cooordination in the Lot-et-Garonne region in southwestern France, said “The goal today is to come to Paris to express our demands closer to those who have the power."

According to AFP, the deal would create one of the world’s biggest free-trade areas and help the 27-nation EU to export more vehicles, machinery, wines and spirits to Latin America.

However, the farmers believe they would be undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours.

“We’re not here to cause trouble," Damien Cornier, a 49-year-old farmer from the northwest Eure region, told AFP. “We just want to work and make a living from our profession."

Meanwhile, a government spokesperson warned against any “illegal" actions, saying French authorities would “not stand by".

Blocking a motorway or “attempting to gather in front of the National Assembly with all the symbolism that this entails is once again illegal", Maud Bregeon told France Info Radio.

Last month, President Emmanuel Macron met farmers to discuss the trade pact.

Meanwhile, Germany and Spain have supported the Mercosur deal, saying that it will provide a welcome boost to their industries, hampered by Chinese competition and tariffs in the United States.

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