Tensions Rise as French Farmers Protest Mercosur Deal and Face Police Arrests

On January 15, 2026, French farmers intensified their protests against deteriorating agricultural conditions and the controversial EU-Mercosur trade agreement. In Lyon, over 70 tractors organized by the National Federation of Agricultural Unions (FNSEA) and Young Farmers paraded through the city center towards the Rhône prefecture, voicing strong opposition to the Mercosur deal and the plunging prices of agricultural products. Farmers expressed alarm at the 40-euro per ton drop in maize prices between March and September and the rising competition from cereals imported under less stringent regulations. Protestors disrupted traffic by dumping hay and green waste on roads while displaying banners such as "Ursula, tu nous mets sur la paille!" directed at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who supports the free trade agreement poised to be signed in Paraguay after 25 years of negotiations.

Parallel demonstrations occurred in Dijon, where around 200 farmers with 70 tractors rallied at various key locations including the Office for Biodiversity and local prefecture. Meanwhile, farmers in Savoie concluded a week-long blockade of a fuel depot after talks with local officials.

In Paris, 52 farmers from the Confédération Paysanne union were arrested following a peaceful occupation of a Ministry of Agriculture annex, where they displayed banners advocating for sustainable farming. Although the farmers were released without charges amid criticism of the police response, their arrest sparked protests outside a police station including support from left-wing politicians such as ecologist Sandrine Rousseau. Leaders from Confédération Paysanne condemned the "excessive repression" and highlighted disparities in treatment compared to the FNSEA, whose large-scale tractor marches faced no similar police action.

Jean-Michel Sauvage, a bio farmer, expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown, emphasizing the union’s mission to defend small farmers threatened by current policies and market pressures. Nina Lejeune, Confédération Paysanne’s national secretary, underscored the need for recognition of their struggles. This wave of demonstrations illustrates the growing unrest among French farmers fearing that unchecked trade agreements and falling prices could endanger the country's agricultural legacy and food sovereignty.