Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Sylvie Corbet and Jeffrey Schaeffer

French farmers force their way through Paris as tractor protest hits capital

A poster on a tractor reads 'Mercosur, death for sure' as farmers protest at the Arc de Triomphe against the Mercosur trade alliance with South America countries but also against EU farming policy or mass cull of cows ordered to contain the spread of a skin disease, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 in Paris. - (AP)

Around a hundred tractors converged on Paris on Thursday morning as farmers staged a protest against the European Union's plans to advance a free trade agreement with five South American nations, according to the French Interior Ministry.

French agricultural workers have long opposed the proposed Mercosur deal, which involves Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, contending it would severely impact their livelihoods.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.