It's a rare and spectacular sight: dozens of tractors rolled through the Champs-Élysées before coming to a stop under the Arc de Triomphe. Despite police barricades, some protesters managed to enter the capital early in the morning. Other convoys settled near the Eiffel Tower or at the gates of Paris, especially at Porte d'Auteuil, where trees were cut down and fires were set to block access.
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According to the Ministry of the Interior, 670 protesters and 109 tractors gathered in the Paris region, including 46 in central Paris. The direct consequence: the A13 highway was closed heading towards Paris, and the prefecture ordered the closure of several strategic access points. The RATP also announced the complete closure of the Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station (metro lines 1, 2, 6, and RER A), with no stops or connections possible.
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Mercosur, health crisis, incomes: the reasons for the anger
While the show of force impresses, the anger has been simmering for months. Farmers are denouncing an economic situation that is deemed unsustainable: according to the Rural Coordination, nearly 70% of farms are operating at a loss. On top of that, there's the heavily criticized management of the nodular dermatosis epidemic affecting cattle herds.
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But the main point of contention remains the trade agreement project between the European Union and the Mercosur countries. Agricultural unions fear an increased competition from imported products that are subject to less strict environmental and health standards. « We are here to save French agriculture », summarizes José Perez, president of Coordination rurale 47.
There is a widespread opposition even within the assembly. A month and a half ago, on November 27th, the deputies of La France insoumise unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the government to oppose the free trade agreement project with Mercosur, deemed harmful to French agriculture, the environment, and the climate.
Accord UE-Mercosur : "Il y a moins d'un an, [Emmanuel Macron] qualifiait cet accord d'inacceptable, de mauvais texte. Et maintenant le voilà qui déclare que tout cela va dans le bon sens", estime @MatthiasTavel. Or, "pas une ligne de l'accord n'a été modifié."#DirectAN #Mercosur pic.twitter.com/wHaGGMcm7a
— LCP (@LCP) November 27, 2025
Maximum pressure on the executive, and a sequel already announced
In response to the mobilization, unions are now seeking political answers. Representatives from four agricultural organizations are set to meet with the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, who was met with loud boos in front of the Palais Bourbon before being escorted away, with even a projectile thrown in her direction.
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On the government side, the FNSEA is expecting a very strong signal from the executive, while France is set to vote against the Mercosur agreement in Brussels. The final position will be announced by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic in the coming days. If the agreement is approved by the EU, the FNSEA and the Young Farmers are already calling for a new mobilization on January 20 in Strasbourg, to engage with the MEPs and attempt to legally block the text.