Rabat – Farmers protesting the EU’s agriculture policies are continuing to block roads leading to France, restricting access to Moroccan trucks carrying produce to the union.
On Tuesday, Spanish farmers in Catalonia blocked roads with tractors. The blockade extended to a vital highway connecting Spain with Southern France, France 24 reported.
According to the report, protesters rallied on Monday on one of the motorways, about 40 kilometers from the French border, before blocking the road from both directions. Demonstrators also blocked a motorway connecting Madrid and Barcelona.
For weeks, EU farmers have been protesting what they consider “unfair competition” from farmers outside of the 27-nation union.
The farmers maintain that countries like Morocco do not have a competitive advantage as they do not have to comply with the same environmental and labor standards, which lowers the cost of production and allows them to sell vegetables at a cheaper price.
Earlier this month, videos circulating online showed Spanish farmers raiding trucks transporting produce from Morocco to the EU in an act of protest.
The EU is a major importer of agricultural goods from Morocco. Over the first nine months of 2023, Morocco’s exports of fresh produce to the EU totaled €1.83 billion. The 27-member block relies on Moroccan imports to keep its markets supplied.
Over the years, EU farmers have persistently complained about the fact that Moroccan produce is sold at a lower price in local markets, claiming that Moroccan exports rely on “labor exploitation” to lower the cost of production.
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