Following France’s Example, Polish Farmers Claim the Agreement Would Harm Their Competitiveness
Farmers in Poland blocked the Medyka border crossing with Ukraine on Saturday, November 23, according to reports from PAP and Reuters, in protest against the proposed trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur. The farmers argue that signing the agreement would harm their competitiveness in the agricultural market.
The protest also included demands to reverse a proposed agricultural tax hike in Poland. Poland’s Minister of Agriculture expressed support for the farmers’ concerns regarding the Mercosur agreement and promised that the issue would be addressed at the government’s next meeting.
During the 24-hour blockade, approximately 30 protesters marched on pedestrian crossings, preventing trucks from entering Poland from Ukraine. Only one truck per hour was allowed to exit Poland, as reported by PAP. The blockade did not affect passenger vehicles, buses, humanitarian aid, or military transport. “For now, there are no major disruptions,” stated Anita Pukalska of the municipal police in Przemysl.
Other Protests
In France, similar protests against the Mercosur-EU agreement have been escalating. Since last week, French farmers have staged multiple demonstrations, including blocking operations at the port of Bordeaux in southwestern France on Thursday. According to RMC radio, 85 other protests have been reported across the country.
In a related move, on November 20, Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard announced that the supermarket chain would cease selling meat from Mercosur countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This decision sparked retaliation from Brazilian meat suppliers.
Despite opposition from French politicians and agricultural groups, the EU remains committed to signing the agreement by the end of the year. The deal would allow South American countries to expand beef, poultry, and pork exports to the EU while giving European countries increased access to sell cars, machinery, and pharmaceuticals in Mercosur nations.
However, not all EU countries support the agreement. During a visit to Buenos Aires on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France “will not sign the treaty with Mercosur as it stands.”
