French Farmers Escalate Protests Against EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement

BEAUVAIS, France (AP) — French farmers escalated protests Monday against the European Union-Mercosur trade agreement under negotiation, citing fears of unfair competition. Backed by their government, they argue the deal would threaten their livelihoods by allowing a surge of South American agricultural imports produced under less stringent environmental standards. In Beauvais in northern France, dozens of farmers with about 50 tractors disrupted traffic before walling up a government office tasked with enforcing environmental standards. The protesters dumped manure and tires in front of the building and moved to the local prefecture, where they set up a noisy camp with firecrackers. “The government slept on its agriculture, so we won’t let them sleep,” said Régis Desrumaux, 54, head of the FDSEA Oise farmer’s union. " Last year, we protested for the same reasons: too much paperwork, overly strict norms, not enough help from the state. Now, with unfair competition from South American products boosted with hormones and GMOs, it’s the final straw.” Armelle Fraiture, a 25-year-old who took over her family’s 300-cow farm in the Beauvais region earlier in the year, expressed concerns about the prospect of South American beef products hitting the French market.