Farmers staged protests across France on Monday at the prospect of a trade deal between the European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc, which will further intensify competition for the French agriculture sector.

BEAUVAIS, France — French farmers escalated protests Monday against the European Union-Mercosur trade agreement, citing fears of unfair competition. Backed by their government, they argue the deal would threaten their livelihoods by allowing a surge of South American agricultural imports produced under less stringent environmental standards.

EDITORIAL. There is an unusual political consensus in France to reject the free-trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. But weakened by an agricultural model that has run out of steam and fearful of a social crisis,