French Farmers’ Union Urges Macron Not to Overlook Rural Communities During G20 in Rio

French President Emmanuel Macron voiced concerns on Sunday about the impact of trade agreements on European farmers during a press conference in Buenos Aires after his meeting with Argentinian President Javier Milei. Macron stated, “I will say this plainly: We cannot ask our farmers in Europe to change their practices, stop using certain products, and focus on developing quality farming while simultaneously opening our markets to massive imports.”

However, the recent wave of protests in France isn’t solely about the Mercosur trade deal, explained Cyrille Milard, a cereal farmer and member of the National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions (FNSEA).

“For the past two years, we’ve been reminded we are crucial to this country’s fabric and were promised both support and deregulation, which have yet to materialize,” Milard said. “We’re expected to produce high-quality goods and sustain our rural communities — we need the right conditions to achieve that.”

Earlier this year, the FNSEA — which has traditionally worked closely with the government to shape French agricultural policy — saw its influence challenged by grassroots protests and blockades largely driven by farmers’ dissatisfaction. These spontaneous movements also lent support to more radical agricultural unions, including the Coordination Rurale, which has been associated with far-right movements, as well as the left-wing, anti-free trade Confédération Paysanne.

This time, the FNSEA appears determined to maintain control over the protests and keep them from spiraling, ensuring the methods of demonstration do not erode the broad public support the agriculture sector enjoys in France.

FNSEA President Arnaud Rousseau explained the aim of this week’s protests is not to cause disruption to the general public, but rather to communicate the urgency of the current issues facing farmers.

In an interview with French network BFMTV on Sunday, Rousseau indicated that protests would likely pause in December to allow producers to focus on holiday-season sales but warned that demonstrations could resume early next year if their demands remain unmet.