French farmers reject the free trade agreement, claiming that it harms their products and that Mercosur member countries do not have such restrictions.
French farmers blocked a highway near the France-Spain border on the third day of nationwide protests. EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
The blockade was carried out on Tuesday At the Boulou toll boothOn the other side of the town of La Jonquera. Your purpose blocking freight truck traffic From Spain to France “in the long run”. According to French officials, in cooperation with their Spanish counterparts, “detours were created to limit disruptions.”
The protests are led by the largest farmers’ union, ‘Coordination Rurale’. French Minister of Agriculture condemns their methodsHe said the action was “unacceptable” and they risked undermining the French public’s “empathy” for their profession.
“It is unacceptable to attack property, attack people or blockade the country for a long time. And I say this to the members of the ‘Rurale Coordination’, who took part in blockade actions in six regions of France by closing the border with Spain last night”, he declared. Annie Genevard.
Future free trade agreement in doubt
EU-Mercosur agreement Aims to increase trade between the EU and South American economies Through the gradual elimination of trade barriers, tariffs and standardization of regulations.
However, French farmers It will create unfair competition with South American farms,which has much lower production costs and less regulation. Proponents of the agreement believe it will strengthen economic ties between Europe and South America.
Unions call for “mirror provisions” to be imposed on imports the same environmental and health standards More than those implemented in France to protect the industry. Consists of Mercosur Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuelathe latter has been suspended since 2017. Associated States are Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Bolivia.
