27 January 2026In an article published in the Swiss daily Le Temps , Sophie Thoyer, Research Director at INRAE (CEE-M) and a specialist in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), sheds light on the factors behind France’s opposition to the EU–Mercosur trade agreement.
According to her, the European Commission has, overall, negotiated the agreement relatively well. “If we take the example of the French beef sector, the agreement poses relatively limited risks to its future. The import quota from Mercosur countries, with reduced tariffs set at 7.5%, amounts to 99,000 tonnes for the entire European Union. For France, this represents roughly 250 grams per person per year,” she explains. She nevertheless points out that competition could intensify for certain cuts of beef that are particularly valued by French consumers and on which the sector generates most of its margins. She also notes that progress has been limited with regard to so-called “mirror measures”, which aim to ensure that imported products comply with environmental, sanitary, and social standards equivalent to those applied within the EU.
Sophie Thoyer also recalls that, “in France, perhaps more than elsewhere, agriculture remains a structuring pillar despite its relatively small share of GDP. Large agricultural cooperatives play a significant role in exports, and the prominence of agriculture in political discourse has deep historical roots.” These factors are compounded by growing concerns surrounding the renegotiation of the Common Agricultural Policy. As the largest beneficiary of EU agricultural subsidies, France could see farmers’ incomes affected by any reduction in funding. “This issue has been present in the background since March 2024 and mobilises farmers who are not directly concerned by slaughtering or exports. Over the past two years, agricultural incomes have declined significantly, prompting many farmers to express a deep sense of distress,” she observes.
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