France abandons reducing agricultural diesel subsidies

The French government will continue to support state support for agricultural diesel, according to information published by the agency on Saturday (27). Reuters. The decision was taken after two weeks of roadblocks set up by farmers, who complained about government-imposed measures affecting the sector.

In the demonstrations, the farmers are demanding the continuation of the fuel tax exemption policy, the simplification of environmental rules, and an end to the ban on some pesticides. They also oppose the Mercosur free trade agreement, which they fear will bring “unfair competition from cheaper Latin American products.”

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who recently took office, said the government would halt a plan to gradually increase taxes on non-road diesel, which was scheduled to begin this year. He also promised to reduce bureaucracy and continue to veto the agreement with Mercosur.

Despite the government's retreat, the farmers do not yet intend to end the protests that have spread to several regions in France and also to other countries in the European Union. They claim that the government has not yet responded to all their demands and that they will continue mobilizing.

France is a prominent supporter of the European Union's environmental policies, which aim to reduce carbon emissions and develop other “green” measures. However, these policies have met with resistance from various sectors of the agricultural sector, which claim that they increase production costs.

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