Protests were reported in 23 locations across the country on Tuesday, the largest of which – attracting over 50 tractors - took place in the northern city of Elbląg.
Damian Murawiec, the head of the farmers’ movement, told Polish state press agency PAP that the government should take the protests as a warning of disruption at an “unparalled scale” if it decides to go back on its decision to oppose the Mercosur deal.
Mercosur is a South American trading bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay as well as a handful of associate countries.
The deal between the EU and Mercosur, which has been in the works for some 25 years, aims to liberalize custom duties in mutual trade and to develop veterinary and phytosanitary cooperation.
The parties announced an agreement in 2019, but it was never formally ratified due to EU demands for commitments on Amazonian deforestation and climate change.
Farmers across Europe have expressed their disapproval of the plan, saying it would create unfair competition with local producers.
Poland against deal
On November 26, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that his country “will not accept in this form the agreement with the countries of South America.”
French agriculture minister Annie Genevard welcomed Tusk’s move, calling it a “wonderful signal.”
However, other EU countries such as Germany and Spain favor the deal.
The EU wants to open up new sales markets in an era of intensifying tariff wars and growing protectionism from the United States and China.
