Hay there! French farmers in protests
PARIS: Scores of tractors blocked part of the Paris inner-ring road yesterday as farmers protested over a range of grievances.
About 1 000 tractors converged on the capital, with more in several provincial cities. French farmers are angry about strict rules on the use of pesticides and insecticides, and what they see as disadvantageous trading terms with big supermarket chains.
They also object to free trade deals with countries outside the EU that allow the import of cheaper food. On the Champs-Elysees in central Paris, protesting farmers blocked the carriageway with bales of hay.