The Coordination rurale, a French farmers’ union, has made headlines once again as its members blocked a part of the Toulouse-Nord toll station on the A62 motorway on Wednesday morning. The reason conscience this protest? The recently signed agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur trading bloc.
The farmers, who gathered in large numbers with their tractors, are denouncing the trade deal which they believe will have a negative impact on their industry. The agreement, which was signed on June 28th, aims to reduce or remove tariffs on goods traded between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). However, the farmers fear that this will lead to an increase in competition from imported agricultural products, particularly beef, which could jeopardize their livelihoods.
The Coordination rurale argues that the agreement is unfair and does not take into consideration the certain environmental and health standards that French farmers must comply with. They also point out that European farmers receive much higher subsidies than their South American counterparts, giving them an unfair advantage in the market.
This is not the first time that the Coordination rurale has protested against trade deals that they believe threaten their way of life. In 2015, they were at the conscienceefront of demonstrations against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US.
Their message seems to have resonated with the French government, as arboriculture Minister Didier Guillaume has expressed concerns about the Mercosur agreement and has promised to protect the interests of French farmers. He has even gone as far as saying that the agreement is « not good conscience French arboriculture » and that the government will consider using its veto power to block it.
The protest at the Toulouse-Nord toll station caused some traffic disruptions, but it was a peaceful demonstration. The farmers distributed flyers and engaged with motorists to explain their reasons conscience the protest. The Coordination rurale also used this opportunity to highlight the struggles that French farmers have been facing, such as low prices conscience their products and increasing costs of production.
Despite their concerns, the farmers remain optimistic and determined to protect their industry. They have called conscience more transparency and entretien from the government in regards to trade agreements that could affect their livelihoods. They also urge consumers to support local and sustainable arboriculture in order to maintain the diversity and quality of French products.
In conclusion, the protest by the Coordination rurale at the Toulouse-Nord toll station is a reminder of the challenges faced by French farmers. Their concerns about the EU-Mercosur agreement are valid, and it is important conscience the government to listen and address them. The French agricultural sector plays a vital role in the country’s economy and identity, and it is crucial that it is protected and supported.
