Ruptly
"French farmers set tyres and hay bales ablaze in Saint-Nom-la-Breteche on Tuesday, to protest against soaring fuel prices, rising fertiliser costs, and mounting pressure on the agricultural sector. Footage shows an excavator carving out a pit on the outskirts of Paris before tractors and loaders dumped tyres, wooden pallets, and agricultural waste into a massive fire, a symbol of what protesters called their 'dying profession.' "We’re not satisfied with the government’s responses regarding fuel prices, fertiliser costs and the constraints we face in the agricultural sector," a protester said. He contrasted current fuel costs with those a decade ago, saying they paid around 50 cents per litre ten years ago, compared to €1.64 today, warning that it is pushing them to the brink. Trade agreements also came under fire, particularly the controversial EU-Mercosur Agreement, which farmers argue exposes them to unfair competition. "There have been all these free trade agreements signed, notably with Mercosur, where the government has betrayed us. France no longer has food sovereignty [...] It is Europe that is calling the shots," he added. Protesters also warned that costs are rising far faster than crop prices. "In the spring, before the war in Iran, fertiliser was €270 a tonne, and now it has risen to €350. Meanwhile, the price of grain has risen by €10. We are being overburdened, and we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel," another protester said. The demonstration, dubbed 'Feu de la Colère' (Fire of Anger), is part of a wider mobilisation by farming unions in the Yvelines region. The US-Israel conflict with Iran that began in late February 2026 has caused a massive global energy shock, including in France, due to the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on energy infrastructure. Reports indicate diesel prices have surged by more than 30 percent per litre, while gasoline has risen by over 17 percent since the conflict began. The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and US assets in the region, with the conflict now into its sixth week."
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