According to the report, pickets of French farmers surprisingly attacked several trucks carrying Spanish products this Thursday. Spanish Confederation of Freight Transport (CETM)the main employer of transporters. At the Le Boulou toll booth, approximately 500 winegrowers raided several vehicles carrying Spanish and Moroccan agricultural shipments and prepared various products. Among those destroyed were: wine, tomato and lettuce. Here we will try to explain the reasons behind this new French attack (the tenth) on Spanish agricultural production.
What caused the protests?
French winegrowers believe Spain has become one of the world’s largest wine producers. the main enemies of the industry. President of the Aude Region Winegrowers Association, Frederic Rouanetthis Thursday Spanish imports “ the decline of many farms “In the south of France” offers prices well below their own. French producers are especially Bulk wine from Spain in most cases it is bottled in France before being distributed to the market.
Why is Spanish bulk wine a threat?
France main bulk wine purchasing country Produced in Spain, according to data from the Spanish Wine Market Observatory (OEMV) between July 2022 and the same month in 2023. The neighboring country purchases 32% of the total volume of bulk wine exported by Spain and 30% of the invoices for these shipments. . These large volumes of imports of Spanish wine, at a price lower than their own, French farmers destroy local productions and threatens the viability of many farms that have been forced to close, especially in the south of the country
How did those affected react?
According to eyewitnesses, Spanish agricultural organizations (Asaja, COAG and UPA) demanded that precautions be taken against the attack. Before the French police intervened to prevent them. In comments to Efeagro on Thursday, Eduardo Pérez, president of Asaja in La Rioja, expressed his dismay at the apparent inaction of the Gendarmerie and demanded that the authorities intervene. Pérez noted that such activities are “unfortunately common across a variety of food products.” Sources from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) stated that “The government does not accept these events.” attack on the free movement of goods It would harm the interests of the European Union and those affected.” The ministry is in contact with the French authorities to ensure normality and prevent future incidents.
Why is the boycott so reminiscent of the 90s?
The action caused among many feeling of deja vuThirty years after the scenes of trucks being burned at the border against the entry of Spanish agricultural products into France. So to French farmers They were christened ‘strawberry crushers’ because 10 trucks of this product were the first trucks to be attacked in 1994. Since then such actions have been repeated periodically, often in connection with price crises in France.