Macron Leads France in Voting Against EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement Amid Agricultural and Political Concerns

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will vote against the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement during the critical January 9, 2026 vote in Brussels, signaling significant opposition despite the treaty's expected ratification by other European Union member states. Macron communicated this decision directly to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, emphasizing that the deal is outdated—negotiated on principles from 1999—and offers minimal economic benefit, projecting only a 0.05% increase in EU GDP by 2040.

Macron underscored the importance of safeguarding France's sensitive agricultural sectors, essential for the country's food sovereignty, which underpins much of the opposition. French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard echoed these concerns, criticizing the agreement as unbalanced and failing to ensure fairness and justice for farmers. This stance aligns with opposition from other EU members such as Poland, Hungary, and Ireland, though it remains insufficient to prevent the agreement’s adoption.

Despite France’s resistance, the pro-Mercosur coalition, strengthened by Italy’s support under Giorgia Meloni, holds a qualified majority in Brussels, allowing the treaty to proceed toward signature by the European Commission scheduled for Monday in Paraguay.

The opposition has also galvanized protests within France, notably by the Coordination Rurale farmers who blockaded the Ambès oil depot in Gironde starting January 8 to protest both the trade deal and government policies concerning nodular dermatitis, impacting fuel supply and seeking governmental dialogue.

While Macron’s vote against the deal symbolizes a defense of national agricultural interests and economic skepticism regarding the pact’s benefits, the broader EU trajectory appears set toward ratification, reflecting tensions between national priorities and EU-wide trade policies.