"Thousands of farmers driving tractors and waving flags descended on Tuesday on the European parliament in Strasbourg in protest at a major trade deal signed with South America, ahead of a vote on whether to refer it to the courts. The deal inked earlier this month between the 27-nation European Union and Mercosur bloc members Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay creates one of the world's largest free trade areas after 25 years of tricky negotiations."
"Farmers plan to remain in Strasbourg until Wednesday. They have no intention of "backing down," Herve Lapie, secretary-general of the FNSEA union behind the demonstration, told AFP. The treaty, expected to come into force by the end of the year, eliminates tariffs on more than 90 percent of bilateral trade. The deal will favour European exports of cars, wine and cheese, while making it easier for South American beef, poultry, sugar, rice, honey and soybeans to enter Europe."
About 4,500 farmers from France, Italy, Belgium and Poland drove tractors and waved flags in Strasbourg to protest the EU-Mercosur trade deal, fearing an influx of cheaper goods made to lower standards and produced with banned pesticides. Protesters warned of mass imports of meat that would not meet French specifications and said the deal endangers public health. MEPs will vote on whether to refer the agreement to the Court of Justice of the EU to check compatibility with EU policy; a court ruling could force amendments. The treaty would eliminate tariffs on over 90% of bilateral trade while easing South American access and benefiting some European exports. Farmers planned to remain in Strasbourg and said they would not back down.
Read at www.thelocal.fr
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