French Farmers Block Paris Ring Road Over EU-Mercosur Trade Deal

On January 9, 2026, French farmers blocked the Paris ring road to protest the EU-Mercosur trade deal as the EU Council voted to approve it. France was outvoted, with Italy also maneuvering on the agreement. The protests led to 11 arrests in the Île-de-France region. Farmers across Europe demonstrated as the EU moved forward with the deal.