French farmers dumped tonnes of potatoes on a Paris bridge on Tuesday (January 13), as they protested for a second week against an EU-Mercosur trade deal they say threatens local agriculture by creating unfair competition with cheaper South American imports.

Earlier in the day, the farmers drove tractors into Paris, with one convoy converging at the Arc de Triomphe and another in front of the French parliament building, known as the National Assembly.

Farmers in France, the European Union's largest agricultural producer, and other member states have been protesting for months over the EU-Mercosur deal and numerous local grievances.

The demonstration on Tuesday was organized by the FNSEA, which is one of France's largest farm unions. A separate farmers' union, the Coordination Rurale, had already brought tractors below the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe last Thursday (January 8) in a surprise demonstration.

The Mercosur deal's approval by most EU states on Friday (January 9), despite France's rejection, has intensified pressure on the government from farmers and opposition parties, some of which have filed no-confidence motions.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Farmers protesting EU-Mercosur deal dump potatoes on Paris bridge

VIDEO SHOWS: MOUND OF POTATOES DUMPED BY FARMERS ON BRIDGE LEADING TO FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

PLEASE NOTE: EDIT 6293-EU-MERCOSUR/FRANCE-FARMERS CONTAINS SOUNDBITES FROM FARMER UNION HEAD, AND IMAGES OF TRACTORS IN FRONT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 13, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

1. MOUND OF POTATOES ON CONCORDE BRIDGE WITH FLAGS OF FARMERS’ UNIONS/ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING IN BACKGROUND

2. POTATOES/ FARMERS STANDING BEHIND/ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING IN BACKGROUND

3. POTATOES ON BRIDGE

4. POTATOES, FLYERS READING (French): “POTATOES EVERYWHERE, REVENUES NOWHERE"

5. MOUND OF POTATOES

6. VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING NEXT TO POTATOES