PARIS: French farmers launched on Monday a new wave of action to protest the adoption of a trade pact between the European Union and four South American countries they fear would threaten their livelihoods. Paris is leading resistance against ratification of the trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay that would create the world's largest free trade zone.
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron defended France's resistance to the proposed blockbuster deal as he visited Argentine's Javier Milei, ahead of a G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. He said France would "continue to oppose" the trade deal.
On Monday, angry French farmers used tractors to block roads and erected wooden crosses during protests across the country, urging Macron and the government to do more. Local farmers also placed a cross next to a mock-up gallows with a message reading "France's agriculture in danger". In the eastern city of Lyon, farmers tore off municipal signs and deposited them at the stairs of a museum. The new wave of rallies came after farmers across Europe including France earlier this year mounted rolling protests over a long list of burdens they say are depressing revenue. — AFP
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