An open letter signed by 44 French unions and environmental organizations has accused President Emmanuel Macron of abandoning France’s long-standing opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade deal. The letter, published Tuesday, warns that France’s “red lines” on agricultural and environmental protections are being eroded.
The signatories include the Confédération Paysanne, the CGT union, Greenpeace, and France Nature Environnement (FNE). They argue that Macron’s recent remarks suggest a softening stance toward the agreement, which seeks to establish one of the largest free trade zones in the world, covering over 700 million people and nearly a quarter of global GDP.
The EU-Mercosur deal links the European Union with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, aiming to reduce tariffs and trade barriers. The European Commission formally endorsed the agreement in September and is pushing for approval by all 27 EU member states and the European Parliament before the end of 2025.
France has long resisted the accord, warning that the influx of cheaper Latin American agricultural products could devastate European farmers. During February’s Paris Agricultural Show, Macron called it a “bad text” and sought a “blocking minority” within the EU to prevent ratification.
However, recent comments from the French president have prompted fears of a policy reversal. Following a European summit in Brussels last week, Macron said it was still “premature” for France to take a final position, but noted progress was being made “in the right direction” to protect vulnerable sectors.
He cited new “safeguard clauses, strengthened customs controls, and support for livestock farming” as measures under review. But critics argue that these additions are cosmetic and fail to address the fundamental risks posed by the deal.
In early September, the European Commission proposed “reinforced” clauses to protect sensitive products like beef, poultry, honey, rice, and sugar in case of import surges or price drops. Yet, French agricultural unions dismissed these safeguards as “largely insufficient.”
Thomas Gibert, spokesperson for the Confédération Paysanne, told AFP that a meeting with Macron’s agricultural adviser left farmers “worried.” He accused the government of attempting to “make us swallow the pill” by introducing limited protective clauses that do not reduce import quotas from Latin America.
A Cevipof and Agro Toulouse survey conducted earlier this year found that nearly 80 percent of French farmers view the Mercosur deal as a direct threat to domestic agriculture.
To calm growing unrest, the European Commission has pledged to monitor the impact of Mercosur imports closely, reporting to EU states every six months. It vowed to investigate if import prices fall 10 percent below EU products or if volumes rise sharply.
But for France’s agricultural unions, such reassurances ring hollow. As protests intensify across southern France, many believe that Paris is inching closer to ratifying a deal they see as incompatible with Europe’s environmental and social standards.