France's Farmers Block Roads, Roll into Paris: Why Anger Boils Over in Agricultural Sector

• French farmers are protesting nationwide, blocking roads and converging on Paris, citing rising costs, dense regulations, and trade pressures pushing them to the brink.
• Key grievances include falling farm incomes due to increased expenses (energy, fertilizers) and competition from countries with looser environmental and labor standards.
• Strong opposition to the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal, fearing an influx of cheaper imports like beef, ethanol, and sugar, produced under lower standards.
• Frustration over environmental policies, such as pesticide bans and complex water/fertilizer rules, which farmers argue disadvantage them compared to other EU members.
• Anger also stems from the handling of lumpy skin disease in cattle, including mandatory culling policies and issues with compensation, alongside a broader decline in the French agricultural sector.

Why It Matters: French farmers protest rising costs, strict rules, and trade deals threatening their livelihoods and sector.