French Agriculture Faces Tensions Over EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement Amidst FNSEA Criticism

At the COP30 roundtable in Belem, Brazil, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed cautious optimism about the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, which is poised for signing at the Mercosur summit on December 20 in Rio de Janeiro. The deal, initiated in late 2024 and adopted by the European Commission in September 2025, aims to liberalize trade between Europe and South American countries like Brazil and Argentina, facilitating European exports of vehicles, machinery, and wine while increasing imports of beef, poultry, sugar, and honey from South America. Macron emphasized the importance of safeguard clauses that would allow Europe to temporarily raise tariffs if European agriculture suffers from unfair competition, reflecting his vigilance in protecting French farmers' interests. Despite Macron's stance, the FNSEA, France's main agricultural union, vehemently criticized the agreement and labeled Macron’s position as a “total betrayal” of French agriculture. The FNSEA has urged French Members of the European Parliament to oppose the agreement to preserve French agricultural sovereignty and protect farmers from adverse effects. Meanwhile, Brazil’s presidency confirmed their readiness to sign the agreement at the forthcoming Mercosur summit, signaling imminent implementation. This discord highlights the growing tension within France between governmental trade ambitions and agricultural stakeholders wary of economic impacts on domestic farming sectors. Macron’s balancing act underscores the challenge of pursuing international trade agreements while addressing domestic concerns within the agricultural community.