The Spanish exporters association, FEPEX has said that it will retaliate against French threats to once more disrupt imports of fresh fruit. Farmers in France have been intercepting freight trucks from Spain at the border tolls, and in some cases throwing the fresh produce on the roads.
The Catalonia and Tarragon branches of Spanish farmers’ union ASAJA have threatened to disrupt the return journeys of holidaymakers (to France) if the attacks on Spanish freight lorries do not stop. But unions in France are adamant that the protests will only stop if the government commits to emergency aid for growers and the implementation of structural changes.
French growers perceive that they have higher costs than other EU member states and consider that retailers should accept a reduction in margins. The Ministers of Agriculture of France and Spain have been in regular contact to discuss the actions being taken by the French agriculture sector.