About: Bruno Le Maire
France ready to take Trump’s tariff threat to WTO
France is ready to go to the World Trade Organization to challenge US President Donald Trump's threat to put tariffs on champagne and other French goods in a row over a French tax on internet companies, its finance minister said on Sunday (8 December).
We will ‘react as one’, EU tells US over French digital tax dispute
The European Commission wants to settle the latest trade dispute with the US over the French digital tax “amicably”, but warned that the bloc will “react as one” if Washington slaps tariffs on Paris.
US vows 100% tariffs on French Champagne, cheese, handbags over digital tax
The US government on Monday (2 November) said it may slap punitive duties of up to 100% on $2.4 billion in imports from France of Champagne, handbags, cheese and other products, after concluding that France's new digital services tax would harm US tech companies.
French banks still fund coal despite finance minister’s plea
A year ago, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire urged French banks, insurers and asset managers to stop funding any mines or coal plants. Two weeks before the Climate Finance Day (28 November, Paris), a group of NGOs published a report urging them to take a step further. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.
Amid Brexit and trade wars, European industry faces economic gloom
The eurozone's manufacturing sector contracted for the ninth consecutive month in October, based on the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) calculated by the Markit firm. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.
The report that could relaunch France’s nuclear sector
The former CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroën published a report on the third-generation pressurised water reactor design known as EPR, detailing the weaknesses of France's nuclear sector, while giving the government and EDF reason to justify building nuclear power plants. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.
US slams tariffs on EU goods, targeting Airbus, wine and whisky
The United States imposed tariffs on a record $7.5-billion worth of European Union goods on Friday (18 October), despite threats of retaliation, with Airbus, French wine and Scottish whiskies among the high-profile targets.
France urges Germany to follow its example with budget stimulus
France will cut taxes by more than €10 billion next year and Germany should follow Paris' footsteps with fiscal stimulus to revive its flagging economy, France's finance minister said on Thursday (26 September).
France and Germany show unity in response to US-China trade war
Paris and Berlin are sticking together in the face of the American trade threat. Both countries want to do everything possible to avoid the introduction of new customs duties between Europe and the US. EURACTIV France reports.
Altmaier’s cloud initiative and the pursuit of European digital sovereignty
In October, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier is set to reveal more detailed plans for the establishment of a landmark European Cloud initiative known as 'Gaia-X.'
Spain obstructs agreement on ‘Tobin tax’
Revenue sharing among member states appears as the main outstanding issue to reach an agreement on the financial transaction tax (FTT), as Spain is still opposing the mutualisation of the resources, European officials told EURACTIV.
Le Maire: ‘Capitalism is in a dead end, must reinvent itself’
French finance minister Bruno Le Maire is determined to chair an “efficient” meeting with his colleagues of the G7 countries on Wednesday and Thursday. His goal is no less than to refound capitalism. As a first step, he wants to reach an agreement on the main features of digital tax, to pave the way for an international compromise by early next year.
Digital Brief: The return of the Digital Tax
French Parliamentarians today voted to approve plans that would see a 3% levy imposed on any digital company with revenues of more than €750 million, with €25m of that figure being generated in France. The green light came after some heavy pressure from US counterparts who attempted to sway the French.
Trump orders French digital tax probe, amid talk of retaliatory tariffs
US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into France's digital tax plans, which may result in retaliatory tariffs or trade restrictions, should the outcome of the probe identify unfair or discriminatory practices.
No agreement on euro budgetary tool- ministers send ‘hot potato’ back to leaders
EU finance ministers failed to reach an agreement in the early hours of Friday (14 June) on an anti-shock instrument to shield the euro, as they continued to clash over almost every feature on the agenda, including the source of funding.
Fiat-Chrysler-Renault merger still ‘interesting’, says French minister
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday (13 June) that a Fiat Chrysler-Renault merger remained an “interesting opportunity” but added he would tell the French carmaker’s chairman that strengthening the Renault-Nissan alliance is the priority.
Fiat-Chrysler withdraws Renault merger offer
Fiat-Chrysler's (FCA) $35 billion-plus merger offer to Renault fell apart only 10 days after being made public, with both companies' shares falling sharply in early trading on Thursday (6 June). FCA blamed French politicians for the collapse.
European mainstream politicians see hope in downfall of Austrian far right leader
Politicians from Europe's mainstream parties called on voters to stand against the far right, after a video sting brought down the leader of Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ), hurting the momentum of nationalists days before a European parliamentary election.
EU looks into ‘Airbus-style’ Franco-German battery plans
France and Germany launched an Airbus-style €6 billion foray into the battery-building business on Thursday (2 May), as the EU's attempts to corner a slice of a growing global market started to pay off.
Vestager campaigns on hostile French territory
Danish Commissioner Vestager, centrist figurehead and part of French Macronists' future family in the European Parliament, does not have support from the French government for fear she will stand in the way of French candidate Michel Barnier. EURACTIV France reports.
France set to introduce new tax on internet giants
France will introduce a bill Wednesday (6 February) to tax internet and technology giants on their digital sales, and thus curb efforts to pay global levies in countries with lower tax rates.
Dutch increase Air France-KLM stake to counter French influence
The Netherlands announced on Tuesday (26 February) the surprise purchase of a stake in Air France-KLM, saying it needed to protect Dutch interests after a series of rows about the alliance's management.
France, Germany call for a change of European regulatory rules
Less than two weeks after the European Commission blocked the merger of Siemens and Alstom, France and Germany published a joint industrial manifesto on Tuesday (19 February) calling for the EU merger rules to be changed.