The Catalan agricultural sector is not backing down in its protest against the free trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur, which the European Union plans to sign next January 17. Farmers insist the deal is detrimental, as it will allow the entry of products that do not meet the same health controls and may have been grown using pesticides banned in Europe.
“"The Mercosur agreement is unfair and had gone unnoticed until we farmers raised our voices."
Prior to the demonstration that collapsed the center of Tarragona with about 150 participants and thirty tractors, sector representatives met with the Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig. The minister promised that the Government would seek to agree on a “common front” against the deal and announced an extraordinary meeting next week to address the issue before the Spanish Government and the EU.
After four days of cuts, the transport employers' association Fenadismer denounced the “hijacking” of more than 40,000 trucks that have been unable to complete their routes, especially those connecting with Europe. This situation has caused “extremely significant economic damage” to various productive sectors due to the reduction of transported goods.
Some truck drivers are reportedly enduring 'inhumane conditions' as true hostages of minority radical groups within the agricultural sector.
Fenadismer pointed out that the blockades have prevented the transport of 5 million tons of fruit and vegetable goods during the last week across Spain. Throughout the day on Sunday, several key routes such as the AP-7, the N-II, the C-16, and the C-38 continued to suffer intermittent traffic cuts in Catalonia.
