French Farmers Storm President's Second Home in Trade Deal Revolt

Farmers protested outside President Emmanuel Macron's private residence on Sunday. They are demanding the complete cancellation of a major EU trade agreement. The demonstration took place in Le Touquet, a town in northern France. It targeted the president's vacation home. Protesters specifically want the European Union to abandon its trade deal with Mercosur. Mercosur is a South American trading bloc that includes Brazil and Argentina. The deal would lower tariffs on agricultural goods. French farmers fear it will bring in cheaper food imports. They say this will create unfair competition and hurt their livelihoods. The EU and Mercosur reached an agreement in principle years ago. However, its final signing has been repeatedly delayed due to environmental and farmer opposition across Europe. The protest shows that farmer anger remains high. They are pushing for the deal to be dropped entirely, not just postponed.