A farmer walks by a fire as farmers protest against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, in Saint-Laurent-de-Mure, near Lyon, central France, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
BEAUVAIS, France (AP) -- French farmers escalated protests Monday against the European Union-Mercosur trade agreement, citing fears of unfair competition. Backed by their government, they argue the deal would threaten their livelihoods by allowing a surge of South American agricultural imports produced under less stringent environmental standards.
In Beauvais in northern France, dozens of farmers with about 50 tractors disrupted traffic before walling up a government office tasked with enforcing environmental standards. The protesters dumped manure and tires in front of the building and moved to the local prefecture, where they set up a noisy camp with firecrackers.
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