Hundreds of Tractors Rally in Paris to Protest EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement

On January 13, 2026, approximately 350 tractors mobilized in Paris as part of a major agricultural protest organized by key French farming groups including the FNSEA (National Federation of Agricultural Workers), Young Farmers, and FRSEA Grand Bassin parisien. The protesters demanded immediate and concrete government action to defend food sovereignty, which they say is threatened by the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement recently approved by the European Union despite strong opposition from farmers.

The tractors entered Paris from surrounding regions such as the North, Eure-et-Loir, and Loiret, escorted by police forces. They followed a police-approved route that included major Parisian avenues like Avenue Foch and the Champs-Élysées, ultimately gathering at prominent locations such as the Quai d'Orsay and the National Assembly where they displayed their grievances through horn honking.

This demonstration was strategically timed just days ahead of the planned signing of the EU-Mercosur treaty, postponed to late January due to a lack of member-state qualified majority approval. Farmers expressed concern over the expected negative impact of the agreement on French agriculture, a sector seen as particularly vulnerable to increased competition from Mercosur countries.

The protest follows previous mobilizations from other agricultural organizations, reflecting ongoing anxiety about the future of France’s food production and sovereignty. Demonstrators committed to safety protocols during the event while conveying their urgent call for government measures to protect domestic farmers from the treaty’s consequences.

As the debate over the EU-Mercosur agreement continues, the agricultural community's vocal protests in the heart of Paris highlight the significant tensions and stakes involved for France's rural economy and food security.