Hundreds of farmers and their tractors converged toward the center of Paris Wednesday, threatening to block access to the French capital and other major French cities to protest against global trade deals, new rules on pesticide use and relations with large retailers.
Farmers asked to meet French President Emmanuel Macron to air grievances about government policies which they say harm French agriculture, news outlet franceinfo reported.
The protest was launched ahead of the start of annual negotiations with retailers on food price, Le Monde reported, with farming unions aiming to ramp up pressure on retailers to increase farmers revenue.
Farmers also protest trade agreements the EU has negotiated with the Mercosur countries and with Canada, which they say could hurt their livelihoods.
More stringent regulation on pesticide use under so-called non-treatment areas were “the last straw that broke the camel” for farmers, Luc Smessaert, vice-president of the FNSEA union, Read More – Source
