Protests Planned in Paris Against EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement on October 14

In a significant mobilization against the impending ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, the agricultural union Confédération paysanne has called for a protest in Paris on October 14, 2025. The union aims to gather farmers, civil society organizations, consumer protection advocates, and environmental groups to demonstrate against the agreement, which is currently undergoing the ratification process initiated by Brussels.

The protest will prominently feature tractors as a symbol of the agricultural sector's resistance, emphasizing the collective power necessary to halt the agreement's approval. According to the Confédération paysanne, the agreement threatens European agricultural livelihoods by allowing an influx of agricultural products from South America, which could undercut local farmers. This sentiment is echoed by FNSEA, another major agricultural union, which is also mobilizing around international agricultural trade issues, including the consequences of the EU-Mercosur deal.

The EU-Mercosur agreement aims to bolster EU exports to South America while simultaneously permitting imports of agricultural products, including sensitive items like meat and soy. Critics, including those within the agricultural community, have expressed concerns about how these imports could affect the viability of French and European farming sectors.

In a recent event, outgoing French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard's attendance at the SPACE livestock show coincided with the announcement of the protest, highlighting government awareness of the tensions surrounding this trade deal. As the October protest date approaches, the agricultural sector’s discontent appears to be mounting, with several organizations slated to join in solidarity with the Confédération paysanne's efforts to protect their interests against perceived harmful trade policies.