French farmers force their way through Paris with tractors to protest free trade deal
abcnews.go.com••general
Key Points:
- Dozens of French farmers protested in Paris, driving about 100 tractors to oppose the EU's proposed free trade deal with Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, fearing it would harm their livelihoods.
- The demonstration, organized by the Rural Coordination union, aimed to pressure the French government, which protesters accuse of insufficient opposition to the trade agreement.
- Farmers also expressed frustration over government sanitary measures related to a bovine disease, adding to their discontent with President Emmanuel Macron's handling of the situation.
- Despite a police ban, around 20 tractors entered central Paris, with convoys bypassing restrictions, though most were stopped at the city's outskirts.
- The EU is resuming negotiations on the Merc
