French farmers are mobilizing for widespread protests Monday, targeting the controversial EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

Farmers will protest across France on Monday as the prospect of a trade deal between European and Mercosur countries sharpens discontent over foreign competition that fuelled a farming crisis earlier this year.

French farmers launched Monday a new wave of action to protest the adoption of a trade pact between the European Union and four South American countries they fear would threaten their livelihoods.

French farmers use tractors to block a motorway in protest against the Mercosur bloc trade talks:::: Vélizy-Villacoublay, FranceA push by the European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc to conclude long-running trade negotiations by the end of the year has rekindled anger in France.

A group used tractors to block a highway south of Paris in the lead-up to this week's events.Farmers throughout France have organized large-scale protests on Monday against the trade accord between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American nations.