French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his intention to block the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, arguing that it threatens French agriculture, undermines environmental standards, and creates unfair competition for European farmers.
Speaking at the Paris Agricultural Show on Saturday, President Emmanuel Macron said that France is ramping up its efforts to form a "blocking minority" within the European Union to prevent the implementation of a trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.
The agreement, announced in December by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to establish a vast free trade zone encompassing more than 700 million people across the EU and Mercosur nations – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
However, it has faced strong resistance from France, particularly among farmers and political groups.
Taking to social media, Macron posted on X: "I will always defend the French agricultural model, so that our farmers continue to produce and feed us, as they know so well how to do, with heart".
More than 600 French parliamentarians have signed a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, arguing that the conditions for approving the Mercosur deal have not been met.
They have cited concerns over massive deforestation in the Amazon, the widespread use of pesticides in Brazil, and significant disparities in animal welfare regulations.
Lawmakers warn that this agreement could result in unfair competition for European producers, endanger food security, and contradict the EU’s climate goals.
Mercosur deal in sight as EU chief von der Leyen pushes past French objections
Oppostion to Mercosur
During his visit to Argentina in November, Macron reiterated his opposition to the deal in its current form, stating that it would be "very bad for our agriculture".
He also emphasised that several Mercosur countries, along with other EU member states, share similar reservations about the treaty.
Opposition to the agreement extends beyond political circles.
The FNSEA – France’s largest agricultural union – has launched a series of protests since November, arguing that the agreement would put European farmers at a disadvantage.
French farmers protest EU-Mercosur deal, block motorways in southern France
Demonstrations have included gatherings outside government offices and road blockades, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction among French farmers regarding what they see as unfair competition.
Despite French opposition, the European Commission – backed by Germany and Spain – is pushing for the deal’s finalisation by the end of the year.
Should the agreement be ratified despite France’s resistance, however; it would be a blow to the country’s influence within the bloc and could fuel Eurosceptic sentiment on a domestic level.
