Overview
- France’s Interior Ministry said most tractors were stopped at the city limits, though about 20 reached central landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
- The Coordination Rurale union led the convoys and demanded to be received by the heads of the National Assembly and the Senate.
- Dozens of tractors blocked key access routes, producing heavy traffic delays of up to 150 kilometers, notably on the A13 from Normandy.
- Farmers cited broader strains such as falling grain prices, higher fertilizer costs, and a cattle disease response they want shifted from culling to vaccination.
- The government condemned the actions as unacceptable and police focused on containment, as Bloomberg reported EU ambassadors could finalize the Mercosur text on January 9 with a possible January 12 signing by Ursula von der Leyen.