Overview

• Farmers across Europe, led by France, are protesting against low income, high costs, and excessive regulations, causing major disruptions including blockades of major highways and ports.
• The protests are a response to economic shocks caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, climate change pressures, and competition from cheap imports.
• French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has promised emergency aid and stricter controls on imported food, but farmers have rejected these measures as insufficient.
• Farmers are demanding fair competition, fewer constraints, lower costs, and protection against cheap imports.
• The protests have spread to other European countries including Belgium, Italy, and Spain, and are threatening to disrupt commercial trade and food supplies.