| Angry farmers are back on the streets of Europe. Protests earlier this year largely concentrated on the impact of climate policies, red tape and the influx of Ukrainian goods. Now, French and Polish growers are bemoaning a potential EU free trade deal with Latin America, while their British counterparts are up in arms over a new inheritance tax. Here’s a summary of why they’re upset: EU-Mercosur Deal The deal between the EU and Latin America’s Mercosur bloc has been a quarter of a century in the making and is getting near the finishing line. But farmers in places like France fear cheaper imports and want guarantees that their Latin American rivals comply with EU health and environmental standards, including on antibiotics and pesticides. France is trying to form a "veto minority" with other EU states to block the deal and could be joined by Poland, as agriculture ministers from both nations looked to compare their lists of objections to the deal. Polish farmers gathered in front of parliament this week to express their disagreement with the deal and threatened to stage protests across the country. Ukraine Trade Warsaw has a history of shielding its agricultural industry from foreign competition. The previous government last year imposed a unilateral ban on grain imports from Ukraine on concern the supplies were hurting its own market, sparking a diplomatic spat with Kyiv. Poland, together with Hungary and Slovakia, continues to ban the import of the goods while allowing transit to third countries. Ukraine’s new agriculture minister, Vitaliy Koval, came to Brussels this week seeking help for his country to export its products after 1,000 days of Russia’s invasion. He also met with agriculture ministers from neighboring nations and urged the EU to support Ukrainian farmers rather than treating them as a threat. Tax Raid Thousands of British farmers descended on central London this week to oppose the new Labour government's decision to impose inheritance tax on farms for the first time in over three decades. The protesters included celebrity supporters like TV presenter and farm owner Jeremy Clarkson and billionaire James Dyson. They argue that the 20% levy on farming land worth over £1 million will "cripple" businesses and prevent them from passing them down to their children.  A farmer drives a tractor over Westminster Bridge during a protest over inheritance tax changes, in London, UK, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Photographer: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg The backlash has become a major political headache for the government, which continues to defend its decision. It says the change will only affect about 500 farms per year and will close a loophole where wealthy individuals buy up agricultural land to avoid inheritance tax. Listen to this podcast where National Farmers’ Union Vice President Rachel Hallos says growers feel “betrayed” by the government. —Agnieszka de Sousa in London | 
