French farmers staged protests with tractors blocking roads near the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. They opposed an EU trade deal with South American countries Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, grouped in Mercosur. The farmers say the deal will cause unfair competition with cheaper agricultural imports. Dozens of tractors bypassed police checkpoints to reach central Paris on Thursday morning. The Coordination Rurale union led the protest ahead of an EU vote on Friday to approve the deal. The deal aims to create a large market of nearly 800 million people. It would boost EU exports of cars, machinery, wines, and spirits. However, farmers fear lower-priced South American farm products will hurt them. Belgian farmers showed similar protests last month in Brussels. Stéphane Pelletier from Coordination Rurale told Reuters, "We are between resentment and despair. We have a feeling of abandonment – with Mercosur being an example." The French government said such road blockades are illegal. Spokesperson Maud Bregeon told French radio, "Blocking roads or attempting to gather in front of parliament – with all the symbolism that entails – is, once again, illegal." Farmers also demonstrated outside the French national assembly, challenging assembly president Yaël Braun-Pivet. The Mercosur deal has support from Germany and Spain but France remains cautious. With elections coming, France secured last-minute concessions but still says the treaty is "not acceptable." The farming minister Annie Genevard said France would continue opposing the deal even if it passes. The EU and Mercosur took 26 years to negotiate the deal, finalized by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in late 2024. It cuts tariffs on EU exports like cars, clothes, food, and medicines. The EU will also open markets but keeps import limits on beef, pork, ethanol, honey, and sugar. To ease concerns, the Commission offered an extra €45bn in farming funds over seven years. France demands stricter rules, like allowing quick reintroduction of tariffs if prices fall by 5% (not 8%) and banning imports of crops grown with banned pesticides. Italy now supports the deal, praising the farming support. Italy’s backing may secure the votes needed for approval on Friday, even without France’s support. Under EU rules, 15 of 27 states with 65% of the population must agree. Blocking requires at least 4 countries with 35% or more population. France’s opposition, shared by Ireland, Austria, and Poland, seems unlikely to stop the deal without Italy’s vote.