Farmers’ Fury: Protests Block Toulouse and Var Motorways Amid Growing Anger Over EU‑Mercosur Deal

French Farmers Take to the Roads

Agriculture in France is once again at boiling point. On Wednesday, January 14, farmers across the country took action — blocking highways and staging “go‑slow” demonstrations to voice their frustration over declining incomes, rising costs, and fears linked to the EU‑Mercosur trade agreement.

The movement has spread from Toulouse to the Var region, with traffic chaos and a clear message to Paris: rural France has had enough.

Defiance in Toulouse Despite Ban

In Toulouse, around forty farmers from the Coordination Rurale of Gers drove a convoy of roughly fifteen tractors into the city overnight, blocking roads near the prefecture. Their protest directly defied a prefectural order banning demonstrations in and around the city.

Police detained five farmers during the night, intensifying tensions.

“In Paris, they roll out the red carpet for protesters. Here, they smash our tractor windows. We’re treated like criminals,” said Eric Lasbats, a Coordination Rurale representative.

The move follows the recent dismantling of a 32‑day blockade on the A64 at Carbonne — a site that had become symbolic of farmers’ unrest in the southwest.

A50 Motorway Paralysed in the Var

Meanwhile, in the south, the A50 motorway between Marseille and Toulon came to a standstill early Wednesday morning. Around twenty tractors, mainly driven by local winegrowers, joined forces in a slow‑moving convoy between Bandol and Saint‑Cyr‑sur‑Mer, causing major delays and kilometres‑long tailbacks.

According to Vinci Autoroutes, journey times increased by over an hour, with entry points at Saint‑Cyr and La Cadière closed for safety reasons. The protest, organised by the FDSEA du Var and Jeunes Agriculteurs, is expected to last until early afternoon.

National Anger Over the EU‑Mercosur Deal

These regional demonstrations are part of a wider national protest wave driven by anger over the proposed EU‑Mercosur trade deal, which many farmers fear will unleash unfair competition from South American producers operating under lower environmental and labour standards.

On Tuesday, more than 350 tractors converged outside the French National Assembly in Paris under the banners of the FNSEA and the Young Farmers Union. Their demands include:

Stronger protection against cheap food imports.
Lower production costs in France.
Real financial support for sustainable agriculture.

In response, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has promised a “Emergency Agricultural Law” to be presented before summer — focusing on better water management, predator control, and support for local production. Farmers, however, remain skeptical, calling for “actions, not empty promises.”

What’s at Stake for French Agriculture

France’s 2026 farming crisis highlights deep structural issues:

High production costs and environmental constraints.
Global competition from countries with lower standards.
Rural isolation as small farms disappear at alarming rates.

With European elections looming and rural discontent rising across the continent, this movement could signal more than a protest — it may mark a turning point for the future of European agriculture.