French farmers begin major protest in Strasbourg
More than 700 tractors expected to park outside EU Parliament in two-day protest
The protests follow EU member states voting in favour of the controversial trade deal earlier this month. Photo shows farmers protesting outside the Assemblée nationale in Paris on January 13, 2026
LE PICTORIUM / Alamy Stock Photo
Thousands of farmers are starting a major two-day protest in Strasbourg against the incoming EU-Mercosur agreement, with over 700 tractors expected to descend upon the EU Parliament.
The protest was called by France’s largest agricultural union the FNSEA and its youth offshoot Jeunes Agriculteurs (JA), and has been planned since European countries voted to pass the controversial trade deal on January 9.
It passed despite France voting against it due to wider support in the EU.
European MEPs will vote tomorrow (January 21) on the deal, either to pass it or send the agreement to the European Court of Justice to be scrutinised for breaking EU law, hence the location of the protests.
Protests elsewhere in France remain limited – especially compared to December and the start of the year – although some action is expected over the coming days.
This includes a protest outside the Duke of Brittany’s castle in Nantes on Wednesday (January 21).
Local branches of all France’s major agricultural unions are well-known for beginning sporadic protest with little to no warning.
Methods include demonstrations outside mairies and other public buildings, and more recently forced inspection of goods at French ports and disrupting petrol stations and supermarket logistic hubs as well as blockading roads.
See our article here for tips on checking roads near you.
Major disruption in Strasbourg
Media in Strasbourg is reporting around 700 - 750 tractors will protest in and around the city, with local authorities preparing for potentially 1,000 tractors to arrive as part of the demonstrations.
Tractors will come mostly from the Alsace area and nearby French departments and no convoys from across France have descended as they sometimes do with Paris. Some farmers from other EU countries are expected to join the action.
The convoy is set to disrupt the A34, A4, and N34 roads as it assembles before driving towards the parliament.
The Bas-Rhin prefecture is asking drivers in and around the city to adapt their routes today to avoid roads expected to face the most traffic.
Live updates can be found through the Bas-Rhin department here, and you should check with local official accounts or news for information on roads inside the city.
Inner-city bus and tram routes may be disrupted due to the closed roads alongside certain sections of the city’s canals.
The protest is set to last until tomorrow evening at 21:00, meaning disruption is realistically expected until Thursday.
Law enforcement will be deployed in a bid to contain order, and all other protests have been banned.
However, unlike several recent demonstrations by farmers in Toulouse and Paris, local authorities have not banned the action so it is not expected to be forcefully dispersed unless violence breaks out.
