France Launches Prgm. in US to Monitor Trade Reprisals

Hoovers Financial News ^ | March 29, 2003

[nwrep]

France launches program to monitor US trade reprisals

March 29, 2003 7:37am

There is concern among French businessmen over whether they may be about to suffer the consequences of the diplomatic row between Paris and Washington. Already Republican congressmen have urged Donald Rumsfeld to abrogate a contract important to France, worth nearly 1bn dollars, involving the French company Sodexo which provides the catering for several military bases in the USA.

As it turns out the contract will not be affected, but the French are far from reassured and have in fact set in operation in the USA what they describe as alert networks. Marc Lebeaupin explains:

[Reporter] The publication in the American press of an advert calling for a boycott of a number of French companies and brand names has added justification to this monitoring operation. It brings together our country's diplomatic representations and the whole network of foreign trade bodies, including the managements of French enterprises.

The purpose of the operation is to make sure that the United States abides by World Trade Organization rules, that French groups are not sidelined from tenders, and also that French products do not fall victim to administrative skulduggery.

Foreign Trade Minister Francois Loos deems this alertness necessary, even though for the moment nothing untoward has happened:

[Loos] What we must be on the lookout for are the controls to which businesses are subjected. Our products must not be blocked by customs for unduly long periods, for example. There's a whole series of malicious actions that can be taken, but so far we have detected none and, on the contrary, the feeling is that our companies know how to defend themselves through the quality of their products.

[Reporter] This monitoring operation was reactivated three weeks ago. The last time it was used was nearly 10 years ago, at the times of France's last nuclear tests in the Pacific.

Source: Radio France Internationale, Paris, in French 1045 gmt 29 Mar 03

/© BBC Monitoring

Publication: BBC Monitoring International Reports

Distributed by Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
Copyright © 2003 BBC Monitoring International Reports. All Rights Reserved.

[Grampa Dave]

[Cultural Jihad]

: D

[snopercod]

I refuse to buy all those berries and grapes from Chile in the supermarkets these days, too...even if I could afford them.

[snopercod]

Great minds...

[Grampa Dave]

How to $crew the back stabbing pro Soddomite Slimey Frogs:

Here is a list of French companies and their products to avoid for the rest of this decade. Please keep this list and send it to your relatives, friends and fellow conservatives via e and snail mail!

*New additions to the list thanks to Freepers. If you have an addition, Freepmail me with the URL showing French ownership.

Air France

Air Liquide

Airbus

Alcatel - Based in Paris France, Provider of communications equipment, including ADSL equipment, terrestrial and submarine optical networks, public switching, fixed wireless access and intelligent networks.


Allegra (Allergy Medication) - Produced by Aventis Pharmaceuticals based in Strasbourg, France

Aqualung (Including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest)

AXA Advisors

*Bacou-Dalloz-Makes Industrial protective devices

Bank of the West - Owned by BNP Paribas

Beneteau (boats)

BF Goodrich - Owned by Michelin

BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters) - Started in 1945 by Marcel Bich. Originally based just outside of Paris. Began trading on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. 40.5% Publicly traded. Bich family still owns 33.5%.

Biotherm (Cosmetics)

Black Bush

Bollinger (Champagne)

*Browning Firearms**

Car & Driver Magazine

Cartier

Chanel

Chivas Regal (Scotch)

Christian Dior

Club Med (Vacations) - Owned in part by Paris based CDC (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations)

Culligan (owned by Vivendi)

Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)

*Danone -Lea and Perrin, Evian and other food/water

*Decatholon Super Sport Stores or MVP Sport Stores*

* Dassault Systemes-(CATIA design software)*

DKNY - LVMH acquired 100% of Gabrielle Studio Inc., the privately owned licenser of Donna Karan trademarks back in 2001.

*DMC THREADS

Dom Perignon

Durand Crystal

Elle Magazine

*Emile Henry French Cookware

*Enertec makes high speed recorders used in Recon aircraft p>Essilor Optical Products

Evian

Fina Oil - Billions invested in Iraqi Oil fields

First Hawaiian Bank

George Magazine

Givenchy

*Grey Goose Vodka

*GroupeSEB owns Krups, Moulinex, Roweta and Tefal Cookware

*Groupe Shneider, owner of Modicon and Square D

*Guerlain Fragrances

*Hachette Filipacchi owner publisher of many magazines sold in the USA. See the list below:***

Hennessy

Houghton Mifflin (books) International Herald Tribune - 181 ave Charles-de-Gaulle - F-92521 Neuilly - FRSource:World Business Council for Sustainable Development '00 [Domain Registration], [Corporate Profile]

Jacobs Creek - Owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989

Jameson (whiskey Owned by Pernod Ricard )

Jerry Springer (talk show)

Krups

****Lagardere****

Lancome

*Lea & Perrins a product of Danon

Le Creuset (Cookware)

L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)

Louis Vuitton

Marie Claire

Martel Cognac

Maybelline

Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)

Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts) - Their phone number is: (33) 1 45 66 15 53 in France

Mikasa Crystal and Glass (purchased by ARC int'l in 2001)

Moet (Champagne)

Motel 6 - 33, Avenue du Maine- 75755 Paris Cedex 15 France

Motown Records

MP3.com

Mumms (Champagne)

Nissan (Cars) - Majority owned by Renault

Nivea

Normany Butter

Parents Magazine

*Perrier

Peugeot (Automobiles) - Pronounced "Pooh Joe", must be French

Pierre Cardin

Playstation Magazine

ProScan - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France

Publicis Group (Including: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising)

RCA (televisions & electronics) - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France

Red Magazine

Red Roof Inns - Owned by the Accor group based in France

Renault (Automobiles) major owner of Nissan

Road & Track Magazine

Roquefort Cheese - All Roquefort cheese is made in France

Rowenta (Toasters, Irons, Coffee makers, etc)

Royal Canadian

Salomon (Skis)

Seagram's Gin

Sierra Software and Computer Games

*Sodexho Alliance* French Food Caterer for the US Marines

Sofitel (Hotels) - Owned by the Accor group based in France

Sparkletts (Water) - Owned by Danone, based in France

Spencer Gifts

Sundance Channel

Taylor Made (Golf)

Technicolor

T-Fal (Kitchenware)

The Glenlivet (Scotch) *Top Tobacco - Dist. by Republic Tobacco L.P., Glenview IL, made in France

UbiSoft (Computer Games)

Uniroyal

Uniroyal Tires - Owned by Michelin

Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) -

Universal Studios is owned by Vivendi-Universal, headquartered in Paris France

USFilter

Veritas Group

Veuve Clicquot Champagne

Vittel

Vivendi - Vivendi Headquarters, Paris France

Wild Turkey (bourbon)

*Winchester Firearms (US Repeating Arms)**

Woman's Day Magazine

Yoplait - France-based Sodiaal owns a 50% stake of Yoplait

Yves Saint Laurent

*Yves Rocher Cosmetics

*ZigZag (tobacco papers and roller products)*

Zodiac Inflatable Boats

*New additions to the list thanks to Freepers. If you have an addition, Freepmail me with the URL showing French ownership.

** Sad news but these two companies are owned by the Belgian Company Herstal, (French Light)

***List of 18 magazines sold in USA by Hachette Filipacchi with an estimated 50 million readers: American Photo, Boating, Car Stereo Review's Mobile Entertainment, Cycle World, ELLE Decor, ELLEgirl, Flying, Home, Metropolitan Home, Popular Photography, Premiere, Sound & Vision, Travel Holiday, Woman's Day Woman's Day Special Interest Publications.

****Lagardere owns the Virgin Megastore group in France, which it bought from Richard Branson three years ago. Its Hachette media division publishes a battery of magazines including Elle , see *** Hachette Filipacchi above. Lagardere also has a stake in the Airbus manufacturing operation. The company is capitalised at over €5bn based on last week's closing prices.****

[Cultural Jihad]

A webcam on the French Cabinet, currently holding a dinner meeting:

[talleyman]

I'll buy from France again after they resurrect the soldiers they caused to die.

P.S. - about post-war UN participation in Iraq - you had your chance.

[optik_b]

I was thinking of buying a new Nissan 350Z but i read that French Renault owns 50% of Nissan. This is making me have second thoughts about it.

[capitan_refugio]

Good for you. I needed to get two new tires for my wife's mini-van. I can guarantee they were not Michelins!

[talleyman]

Thanks. A "vanity" question: I need tires. What Non-French companies are left that make decent ones? I didn't see goodyear, firestone/bridgestone, dunlop, or general on the list. Any suggestions?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Aqualung

Merde... now I have to get rid of my fave Jethro Tull Album???? Damn... the sacrifices I make....

[Dr.Deth]

far more than if thousands refuse to buy a Peugeot

Uhh, why would anyone other than a strategically shaved ape consider buying that rolling junkbucket in the first place?

[snopercod]

OK, you give up Jethro Tull, and I'll give up Black Bush.

[snopercod]

I have Square D circuit breakers in my house. "Designed to surrender at the first sign of an overload".

[jriemer]

France, monitor this...

[Grampa Dave]

Good Year, Dunlop, and Fireli. If you have a Big O, check with them who makes their tires.

I'm not a tire expert.

Hopefully someone will help you. We have had good luck with the Good Year tires for decades.

[Grampa Dave]

I have a couple of the same white flag bastards in part of our house. They are a real PIA.

Good catch on the Chilian fruit and vegies. Fortunately, California is getting into season.

The grapes if not from NZ or Australia are probably from Chili.

One of the wine stores in town is selling the French and Chilian wines at a low price and not ordering any more. He calls his basket of French/Chile wines, the surrender basket. He is amazed that people still are not buying them even a big discount.

[McGavin999]

Anyone having to fly anywhere make sure you let the airline know that you won't fly Airbus. The airlines are in trouble and if they know that their buying french Airbus will send customers to other airlines.......;o)

[jimkress]

Same here in the Detroit area. Big sales on French wine - no takers.

[Grampa Dave]

That is interesting. When I go to this store to buy our wine and my micro brews, I check the sale baskets. Sometimes there are some good deals and sometimes not.

Most of the French and Chile wines were at least 40% off with only a few buyer according to one of the clerks/checkers.

The same store pulled a huge display bin of Evian and is trying to send it back after several of us complained about it.