French farmers block the A9 motorway during a demonstration in Nîmes, Occitanie region, southern France | Photo: EFE/EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO
The French government will maintain state subsidies for agricultural diesel, according to information published by Portal on Saturday (27). The decision came after two weeks of roadblocks by farmers who complained about measures imposed by the government affecting the sector.
At the demonstrations, farmers are demanding the continuation of the fuel tax exemption policy, the simplification of environmental regulations and the end of bans on some insecticides. They also oppose the Mercosur free trade agreement, which they fear will bring “unfair competition from cheaper Latin American products.”
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who recently took office, said the government would stop the plan to gradually increase taxes on nonroad diesel that was due to start this year. He also promised to cut bureaucracy and continue to veto the deal with Mercosur.
Despite the government's withdrawal, farmers still have no intention of ending the protests, which have spread to several regions of France and also to other European Union countries. They claim that the government has not yet responded to all their demands and that they will continue the mobilization.
France is a leading supporter of EU environmental policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and developing other “green” measures. However, these measures have faced resistance from various sectors of the agricultural sector, who claim that they increase production costs.
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