French Farmers Intensify Protests Against Mercosur Agreement and Disease Management

French farmers have escalated their protests across several regions, expressing strong opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement and the government’s handling of the contagious nodular dermatitis (DNC) outbreak among livestock.

The protests, which began last Friday in southwestern France, have spread nationwide, with major highways and railways blocked, including the A64 and A63 near Toulouse and Bordeaux, and critical routes in Gers and Ariège. Farmers have used tractors, straw bales, and even bulldozers to enforce blockades, disrupting transportation and commerce, including access to Andorra impacting pre-Christmas businesses.

At the core of the unrest is opposition to the government's strategy to combat DNC, which involves the systematic culling of infected cattle, vaccination campaigns, and movement restrictions. Since June 29, 2025, when DNC was first detected, 113 cases have been reported. Farmers, backed by unions like FNSEA, Jeunes Agriculteurs, Coordination Rurale, and Confédération Paysanne, demand an end to culling in favor of expanded vaccination, citing inadequate consideration of their proposals. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard defended the culling strategy during her visit to Toulouse, calling it the most effective response. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has convened meetings with ministers to address both the DNC crisis and related agricultural grievances.

Simultaneously, the Mercosur trade agreement, which would allow an influx of South American agricultural products such as meat and sugar into Europe, has further fueled farmers’ discontent. Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopératives U, condemned the agreement as creating “Shein-like unfair competition,” stating his organization will not purchase Mercosur products if French equivalents are available. Schelcher stressed the unequal regulations between French farmers and South American producers and urged consumers to prioritize French products during the holiday season. France is currently pushing to delay the vote on this agreement until 2026.

The combined pressures of disease management concerns and fears of unfair trade competition have created a tense and volatile atmosphere within French agriculture, with farmers signaling a readiness to continue blockades until their demands are met. Despite government assertions that the DNC situation is under control, farmers remain skeptical and determined to see significant policy changes.