Farmers’ convoys head for Paris to restart protest motion

PARIS (Reuters) – Convoys of farmers set off on Sunday to attempt to block roads round Paris in protest in opposition to what they are saying is unfair competitors from abroad and extreme regulation.

Farmers from France, the European Union’s largest agricultural producer, led European-wide protests at first of 2024, however demonstrations fizzled out because the 12 months went on.

Nevertheless, a transfer final month by the EU and South American nations within the Mercosur bloc to announce an settlement in precept on a free commerce deal has given new impetus to French farmers against the Mercosur deal.

French farmers additionally stay sad about regulation which they are saying is hitting their earnings. Farming commerce union officers are as a consequence of meet French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Jan. 13 to precise their issues.

“They do not perceive the extent of distress and misery that farmers are going by way of in the meanwhile,” Amelie Rebiere, vice-president of the Co-ordination Rurale farming commerce union, informed BFM TV.

Those that again the EU’s Mercosur deal, reminiscent of Germany, say it provides a solution to cut back reliance on commerce with China, and insulates EU nations from the impression of commerce tariffs being threatened by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

However, many European farmers – usually led by these from France – have repeatedly protested in opposition to the EU-Mercosur deal, arguing it might result in low cost imports of South American commodities, notably beef, that don’t meet EU security requirements.