On the fourth day of the protests, French farmers blocked the commercial port of Bordeaux, disrupting operations to protest against the EU-Mercosur trade deal and 'abusive margins' by distributors.
On Thursday morning, farmers continued their blockade of the Leclerc purchasing center in Beychac-et-Caillau, while members of the Rural Coordination of Lot-et-Garonne arrived in Bordeaux to block the commercial port in Bassens. The protests have caused significant disruptions, with tractors and trailers blocking access to the Grand Port Maritime, the country’s seventh-largest port for goods traffic.
Farmers argue that the trade deal will allow imports of South American agricultural products that do not meet the same standards as French produce, threatening their livelihoods. Karine Duc, a union official, stated that the blockade is planned to continue throughout the night and possibly longer until the government provides a written commitment to address their concerns.
The protests have spread to other regions, with farmers in Toulouse planning to block roads next week to express their discontent with the trade agreement. The French government has pledged to oppose the deal, but farmers remain unsatisfied with the current measures.
