On January 8, 2026, French farmers drove dozens of tractors onto the streets of Paris, blocking access roads and central avenues in protest against a large-scale trade agreement that the European Union plans to sign with South American countries, ProAgro Group reports.
According to French media, farmers from the major union Coordination Rurale oppose the planned EU agreement with Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Protesters argue that the deal would lead to an influx of cheaper agricultural products into the European market, undermining the competitiveness and livelihoods of local farmers.
The protest began before dawn, when dozens of tractors drove along the Champs-Élysées and blocked traffic near iconic Paris landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe and areas surrounding the Eiffel Tower. Despite police restrictions, demonstrators broke through barriers and occupied key highways, causing traffic jams stretching up to 150 kilometers on approaches to the capital, including the A13 motorway from Normandy, according to France’s transport minister.
Representatives of FNSEA and the Young Farmers’ Union later joined the protest, highlighting broad support for the movement within France’s agricultural community.
Farmers also voiced opposition to other government policies, including measures to combat the spread of nodular cattle disease, which they consider excessive.
A vote on the EU–Mercosur agreement is expected in the coming days. Protesters aim to intensify pressure on the French government and European lawmakers to abandon the deal or revise its provisions.
As previously reported, the European Union’s imports of Ukrainian agricultural products totaled $10.7 billion in 2025, down more than 20% compared to 2024.
