French farmers block access roads to Paris: protests against EU trade agreement take to the streets
8 January 17:39
In France, farmers blocked major roads to Paris, as well as access roads near several well-known tourist locations. The action was a protest against a large-scale trade agreement that the European Union plans to conclude with South American countries in the near future.
This was reported by Reuters, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The protests have caused traffic congestion around the capital and increased pressure on the government ahead of key decisions in Brussels.
What farmers are protesting against
French farmers fear that the new agreement will open the European market to cheaper agricultural products from South America, particularly meat and grain.
In their opinion, this will put EU farmers at a competitive disadvantage, as environmental, veterinary, and labor standards in the European Union are much stricter than in the countries that are partners in the agreement.
Why now
The protests coincided with the final stage of discussions on the agreement at the EU level. For farmers , this is an attempt to demonstrate their disagreement before the document is finally approved.
France is traditionally one of the countries where the agricultural sector has significant political influence, and farmers’ protests often become a national issue.
The authorities’ reaction
The French authorities have so far refrained from making harsh comments, but the government has previously stated the need to protect national producers and take farmers’ interests into account in European negotiations.
At the same time, Brussels emphasizes that the agreement is of strategic importance for the EU and is aimed at expanding markets and strengthening economic ties.
The actions of French farmers are part of a broader wave of agricultural protests in Europe that have been ongoing for the past few months. They combine dissatisfaction with EU trade policy, environmental requirements, and rising production costs.
