Farmers stress that the agreement with South America could open the European market to products that fail to meet EU environmental and food standards, creating additional pressure on domestic producers.
“We are calling for a major day of action on September 26 across all regions against Mercosur, against Donald Trump’s taxes, and against the flow of international imports that do not respect our rules,” Rousseau emphasized.
The planned protests increase pressure on France’s new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, who is already facing challenges, with trade unions set to hold demonstrations and strikes on September 18. Seeking to soften Paris’s opposition, the European Commission proposed a mechanism allowing restrictions on agricultural imports in the event of a sharp increase in volumes or a fall in prices.
At the same time, farmers demand a clear strategy and vision from the government regarding the development of the agricultural sector.
“I expect from Mr. Lecornu what I also expected from his predecessors: a vision and direction to provide answers to an agricultural sector plagued by doubt, giving us the capacity to act to guarantee the country’s sovereignty, especially its food sovereignty,” Rousseau added.
Analysts believe that the September 26 protests will be a critical test for the new government. France’s agricultural sector traditionally holds significant influence, and trade deals remain a major source of heated debate across Europe.
PigUA.info based on materials from thepigsite.com