French farmers held a rally against the Mercosur agreement

Farmers near Paris started a protest action, blocking with tractors a part of the highway leading to the French capital in protest against the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Common Market of South America (Mercosur), which may be signed at the G20 summit in Brazil opening on Monday. This was reported by the France Info TV channel on November 17.

"On Sunday, November 17, convoys are heading towards the N118 highway. Dozens of union activists dressed in orange vests and carrying flags of the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) have already arrived," the TV channel informed.

It is specified that tractors of farmers from FNSEA and other agricultural unions are blocking two of the three lanes of the highway leading to Paris.

"If a prolonged blockade occurs, we will not hesitate to mobilize the necessary forces to ensure freedom of movement," warned the interior minister.

For his part, Republican President Emmanuel Macron said France would not sign the free trade pact in its existing form.

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Earlier, on July 20, nine people were injured and seven detained at protests of farmers in western France. Law enforcement officials had to use tear gas.

The G20 summit will be held on November 18-19 in the capital of Brazil and will be devoted to "building a just world and a sustainable planet". The Russian delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.