About fifty tractors, called by Revolta Pagesa with the support of Asaja and Unió de Pagesos, blocked the A-2 highway near Fondarella on January 9 to protest the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. The farmers, who decided to spend the night at the roadblock, argue that the treaty will lead to unfair competition, loss of food safety, and the closure of many small farms.
“"The treaty is not just a problem for the primary sector, but for the whole country, as it will allow the entry of agri-food products made with substances prohibited in Europe."
The treaty provides for the elimination of tariffs to facilitate free trade with Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The agricultural sector warns that this will favor imports of products with much lower production costs, derived from lower wages and less strict environmental and health regulations. Farmers insist that if they produce under stricter standards, incoming products should meet exactly the same conditions.
“"Mercosur is not a solution, but a problem. These agreements generate unfair competition with all production in Catalonia, Spain, and Europe."
The president of Asaja Lleida, Pere Roqué, detailed that producing one kilo of fruit in Lleida costs about 53 cents, while in Mercosur countries the cost is between 20 and 25 cents. This difference, combined with the reduction of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), endangers the continuity of the sector. The blocking of the A-2, from Bell-lloc d’Urgell towards Barcelona and from Golmés towards Lleida, caused three kilometers of traffic jams, with diversions managed by the Mossos d’Esquadra.
The mobilizations spread to other parts of Catalonia, including blocking access to the Port of Tarragona, cuts on the N-230 in Pont de Suert, the N-260 in Sort, the Coll d’Ares in Ripollès, and the AP-7 and N-II in Figueres. Farmers demand the same standards for all products, fair prices, and a strong CAP to prevent the closure of livestock farms.
