French lawmakers reject Mercosur free trade deal as farmers continue protests

RFI

28 November 2024 at 6:31 am·1-min read

A farmer drives a tractor in Strasbourg with a banner reading "No to Mercosur" as part of a nationwide protest against the deal on 18 November, 2024.

France’s Senate has voted to reject the Mercosur free trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries, following a similar vote in the National Assembly, as farmers continue to protest against a deal they say would bring unfair competition.

The lower house of parliament voted nearly unanimously Wednesday against the deal that is being negotiated in Brussels, a day after the upper house voted the same – a rare show of political consensus in a politically divided France.

The deal between the 27-member European Union and Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay was agreed on in 2019, but has stalled as it moves through approval votes in individual countries.

France says the free trade agreement will devastate its agriculture sector, and farmers again took to the streets last week to express opposition, saying it will bring unfair competition.

A second week of farmers protest this week is focused more on what they call constraints put on them by regulations – a main topic of concern during massive farmer protests that broke out at the start of the year.

France looking for allies

With both houses of parliament voting to reject the deal, France is sending a strong message to other European countries, said Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

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France looking for allies

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