"Farmers in southern France gathered in Auch on Tuesday as part of protests against the European Union’s trade agreement with Mercosur countries, scheduled to be signed in Paraguay on January 12. Footage shows farmers by the dozen, lighting a bonfire by the roadside, in their latest symbol of resistance against the government’s looming trade deal. “The Mercosur agreement is a complete disaster. A total disgrace. We are going to be forced to consume even worse food than before,” said Nicolas, an agriculture employee who came to the rally. Protesters say the EU-Mercosur trade deal would expose French agriculture to unfair competition from imports produced under looser standards. “Here, we are required to produce under extremely strict quality standards, and at the same time, we are going to be flooded with imported meat produced using hormones and chemical inputs,” he added. Others expressed frustration over new measures related to the government's management of a cattle disease, which require the culling of entire herds. “It feels like there is a deliberate effort to destroy livestock farming. This disease keeps spreading; it’s clear that the current control protocol is not working, and yet entire herds of cattle continue to be slaughtered. That is simply unacceptable,” said Amandine, a French farmer from Gres who has been participating in rallies for the past 25 days, and is frustrated that “nothing is changing.” “I’m ready to stand with my cows until the very end,” she added. The protests are part of a broader wave of farmer demonstrations across France. Another demonstration is scheduled for January 8 in Paris, organised by the Rural Coordination Union (CR), where tractors are expected to converge on the capital. The French government has met with national agricultural unions and plans further talks early next week. The continuation of the blockade will depend on the outcome of those discussions and on announcements from Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard. Demonstrations have also erupted across Europe, reflecting wider fury over the Mercosur deal. Negotiated over 25 years, the agreement would eliminate most tariffs over 15 years across a market of roughly 780 million people. Although agreed in principle in December 2024, its final signing was delayed from December 2025 due to political disagreements among EU member states."