Name: Belgian farmers in anti-trade protest clash with police
Uploaded: 2025-12-18T18:32:42.898Z
Duration: 1 min 11 s
Description: A rally by farmers against a contentious trade deal between the European Union and South American trading bloc Mercosur turned violent on Thursday (December 18).

A rally by farmers against a contentious trade deal between the European Union and South American trading bloc Mercosur turned violent on Thursday (December 18).

Brussels

Belgian farmers protesting against a proposed EU-Mercosur free trade agreement clashed with police near the EU Parliament in Brussels. The demonstration, which saw the arrival of around 1,000 tractors and an estimated 7,000 protesters, turned violent as police used tear gas and water cannons, and protesters responded with smoke bombs and potatoes.

Authorities had originally authorized a much smaller protest, but the turnout far exceeded expectations. The protest coincided with an EU summit where leaders were set to discuss whether to sign the trade deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Critics of the agreement argue it could harm European producers by allowing cheaper commodities to enter the market.

Belgian farmers in anti-trade protest clash with police

Police detain a bloodied protester as a demonstration by farmers against an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement turned violent on Thursday. Clashes erupted near the EU Parliament as Belgian police fired tear gas and water cannons, while protesters threw smoke bombs and potatoes. Police intervened when the violence escalated and sought to arrest some of the protesters. At one point, a tractor was driven into a line of riot police, although it did not appear to have hit anyone. Police said they had authorised a protest with up to 50 tractors, but by early Thursday afternoon around 1,000 had arrived in the Belgian capital. They estimated the number of protesters at 7,000. EU leaders are set to debate at a summit in Brussels on Thursday on whether the EU should sign the deal with the bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Critics of the trade pact say cheap commodities could flood the market, to the detriment of European producers.

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