- Farmers drove into the capital with dozens of tractors, causing serious traffic disruptions.
- The protest concerns the planned EU trade agreement with South American countries.
- Farmers are criticizing the authorities’ response to bovine nodular dermatitis and rising production costs.
- The demonstrations are taking place just before the planned vote by EU countries on the agreement.
Farmers’ protest against the EU-Mercosur agreement
On Thursday, 8 January 2026, French farmers drove tractors into the centre of Paris, blocking the main streets and access roads to the capital. The demonstrators are opposing a planned European Union trade agreement with Mercosur countries, including Brazil and Argentina, which they say could lead to an influx of cheaper agricultural products and undermine the competitiveness of French farms. The protest took over the area around key points in the city, causing traffic disruption.
Farmers stress that the trade agreement does not provide sufficient guarantees to protect local agricultural production. In addition to trade issues, they also point to dissatisfaction with the government’s policy towards the agricultural sector and the way in which it is responding to the spread of bovine nodular disease.
Pressure on the French government and European Union institutions
The demonstrations are taking place at a time of heightened political tension, as a vote by European Union member states on the further fate of the Mercosur agreement is due to take place the very next day. France has long expressed scepticism about the agreement, but its adoption could happen even without its support if a majority of EU countries vote in favour of ratification.
The protests in Paris are part of a wider wave of discontent among farmers in Europe who are increasingly highlighting cost pressures, import competition and the impact of EU trade policies. Thursday’s demonstration is intended to have a direct impact on policymakers ahead of a key decision.
