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Made in France is particularly popular in this pre-election period. For Adrien de Tricornot co-author of "Inevitable protectionism" is both inadequate and cons-productive for the country reindustrialise. Interview. But the tertiary sector of the labor market in France is also accompanied by a sharp drop in the industrial sector. Occupations exposed to international competition are the most exposed. Metallurgy and should lose, according to forecasts of CAS, 40 000 jobs. Made in France is particularly popular in this pre-election period. Almost all candidates have made a strategic focus of their program. Why?

In contact with opinion and their voters, candidates understand the concerns that cause deindustrialization. They are therefore obliged to provide answers, more or less satisfactory elsewhere. But behind this reaction a bit demagogic, candidates are especially becoming aware that the trade deficit is causing the budget deficit, and not vice versa. Clearly, that our problems are not related to excessive public spending but the growing industrialization of France. This is reassuring since the diagnosis is correct. Unfortunately the answers thereto are not up to par.

Why? Promote French production is not a good starting point?

This is both superficial and cons-productive. Superficial, because it does not respond to the initial problem: it's not a label or an annuity tricolor French product that we will reach reindustrialise France. Cons-productive or even dangerous, because it leads us to withdraw into ourselves when we are part of a package called the European Union. Our priority must be to bring together our models rather than opposing them. Or give the advantage to the Franco-French products require to ultimately recover from the borders between us and our European neighbors. Suffice to say that we would lose 50 years of progress and of European integration.

VAT Social Nicolas Sarkozy seem to you more able to answer the question of de-industrialization of France?

A tariff intelligent European borders seems a more appropriate response, although more difficult to implement. Anyway, create a social VAT at this time of unemployment and low growth seems particularly dangerous. Taxing consumption will lead to an immediate compression of demand, which is obviously not desirable. Conversely, the success of the device in terms of labor cost is far from clear. For the measurement to be as efficient as possible, it would take a broad base and a strong increase in VAT, which is the opposite of what the government proposes. Therefore, it seems wiser to focus on other ways to offset the decline in the cost burden as the increase in CSG for example, or the tax on financial transactions.

Germany has set up successfully …

It's time to stop with the myth of the German model. German competitiveness is not due to labor costs, but its strong specialization in heavy industry. Indeed, the country has managed to turn to high-end industry and is now enjoying growth in inequality in the world, by building machines from Chinese factories. Moreover, the German population is very different from its French neighbor, giving it the moment a comparative advantage. Anyway I think the comparison is irrelevant between the two countries. More generally, moreover, the manipulation of foreign models, often in politics, most often leads to an impoverishment of the economic debate. Remember when in the year 2000, Germany put Ireland and Britain on a pedestal …

In your book "Inevitable protectionism", you feel that the only answer to our competitiveness problem is protectionism, why?

For years, employment and value added of manufacturing French, European and U.S. are in freefall. For years, the growth of the financial system helped to hide this reality. The use of public and private debt indeed allowed to sustain growth. But the crisis of 2007 brought down the masks: after the financial bubble burst, it became impossible to restore growth. In a way or we must therefore find ways of production.

See also the discussion of Expansion: Is a new protectionism?

How?

The great ideology of free trade, still largely dominant, lulled us into the illusion that global competition could be pure and perfect, and it would lead to lower prices for people, and enrichment of the most poor. In reality, this never happened, and very quickly, new forms of protectionism (unfair) appeared. This is for example the case of the Chinese currency, now largely undervalued, and against which it is impossible to compete! It is also the case for taxation which allows some countries to attract the wealth of others. Faced with this terrible situation two possibilities: either we wait idly by our bankruptcy or they were countered by strong safeguards, but transparent and fair.

What concrete steps do you propose?

We propose to set up barriers at the borders of Europe and more generally to regionalize trade in coherent sets. The idea is to increase the price of imports from countries that do not meet a number of tax rules, social environment. At the social level, for example, one can imagine a system where we would tax the product if wage growth does not follow the increase in productivity. Thus, if the difference between the salary increase of Chinese textile worker and the average gain in productivity of the company is 15%, 15% tax on the product until the gap is not reduced. To avoid paying customs duties, the company's interest to raise wages. This can be transposed at the environmental level: all products whose manufacture has not met the criteria of the Kyoto Protocol for example could be taxed. To be completely concrete, we tried to do the math, a role for monetary dumping: on his arrival in Europe, a Chinese textiles would be taxed to the tune of at least 50%.

Europe seems you ready?

It will be long and complicated but not impossible. Especially Germany defends its interests tooth and nail, but is aware that she eminently need the euro area, the main destination of its exports. Moreover, in the European treaties, customs duties are primarily decided by qualified majority, which offers greater flexibility. However we are well aware that such measures will be implemented in a snap. It is only time to think, the risk that not only the political extremes seize the issue and distract.

Might there be not to antagonize our trading partners?

Today no one can move from Europe as a trading partner, nor the U.S. nor China, which have also not the same reservations that we resort to protectionism. Moreover, it seems that for some of our partners, our lack of reaction is analyzed almost as a sign of weakness and decadence of the West. That is why they will not be surprised to witness the awakening of Europe! When Barack Obama has increased tariffs on Chinese tires, it affected relations between the two countries for a time, and then exchanges came away with renewed vigor, as tariffs for that matter! That's why it's time to stop stigmatizing a priori protectionism, which is not comparable as such to the war or border closures as would have us believe the advocates of liberalism …

Sign that the subject is growing, studying the Assembly on Thursday a resolution to develop the "Made in France". Almost all candidates are trying to ride the wave of re-industrialization and the premium Franco-French. Decryption. The show of the Patrouille de France at the 24 Hours of Le Mans June 11, 2011.

The "Produce French" was on a roll. Not with consumers who are now unable to say whether the product they buy is French. But with the presidential candidates, who feel that the niche is a carrier in France suffering from deindustrialization and offshoring. In April the presidential campaign will be "made in France" or will not … as evidenced by programs across the political spectrum.  

"Label France" to François Bayrou, "social VAT" which does not say his name to Nicolas Sarkozy, or "green tax" European borders for Francis Holland, no shortage of ideas to revive the power of the large French industry. Sign that the subject is back, the National Assembly must still vote on Thursday a resolution of the UMP group to develop the made in France. "We can not accept a plate made in China with a French grip is marked Made in France", said Christian Estrosi, the former minister of industry, which requires that only products with more than 55% French-made can be labeled lights

To observers, the subject is particularly appropriate at this time of crisis. "The produce in France reflects a strong concern in France," said Brice Teinturier including Ipsos. Marine Le Pen has understood, she makes out of Europe and the imposition of border taxes, one of the central axes of the program.

According to the Ipsos polling institute, the thrust of François Bayrou in the polls would also be put on the account of his industrial chauvinism. "In the collective imagination, very hard on this issue, a great nation is a developed country, the rank of France in the world is partly linked to this," said Jerome Fourquet of the FIFG, author of a note on the French and deindustrialization.

The evidence in recent weeks with business Seafrance, Lejaby and Petroplus, who met an important echo in public opinion. And immediately rushed to the bedside of candidates employed in trouble … In late January, during his televised speech, Nicolas Sarkozy assured that it "would not drop the" factory of Lejaby Yssingeaux. Mission accomplished on Wednesday, with the guarantee of a Franco-French buyer, supplier of LVMH. In December Francois Hollande was going to visit the factory Eolane coming to repatriate the production of digital tablets of Taiwan in France. Examples of many that reveal a certain state of mind. When France finally announced this week that it had "almost" sold its Rafale to India is the patriotism of all the French that seemed to vibrate at the same time.

Now the candidates are fighting over who introduced the theme in the campaign. François Bayrou claims to be the first to have spoken, but the UMP to dispute the paternity of the concept in 2009, Yves Jégo was commissioned by Nicolas Sarkozy to write a report on the "Brand France". However all are cautious to ride the wave red white blue. They probably fear of being accused of being anti-European and playing the withdrawal. Recently, Pascal Lamy, the WTO chief warned states against the return of protectionism in times of crisis. And each G20 member states undertake to protect no matter what free trade.

Remains how far will the candidates in their promotion of "industrial patriotism" as described Francois Hollande. "Stay there be in the scoop and the incantatory speech or do we put the hands dirty?", Says Jérôme Fourquet. "The risk is that these ideas are only recovered by the political extremes, and they definitely go out of public debate," laments Stamberger Benjamin Masse, co-author of "Inevitable protectionism," and journalist for L'Express.

Ultimately, everything may depend of the evolution of the candidates in the polls. If Jean-Luc Mélenchon with his "European protectionism" were to make a breakthrough surprise, this could change all that …

China on Thursday welcomed the consensus reached in the night by Europeans around a plan to end the crisis for the euro area and expressed his support for the measures announced.

After more than ten hours of the summit, the leaders of the euro area have come in the night from Wednesday to Thursday to reach an agreement on the restructuring of the Greek debt, capacity building fund to support the euro and the recapitalization of banks.

"We hope that this consensus (…) is conducive to boosting market confidence," said the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a press conference."China supports the measures taken by the EU to stem the debt crisis."

"China is willing to make joint efforts to safeguard the recovery and growth of the global economy," said the spokesman, noting, without giving details, that Beijing was ready to increase its cooperation with the EU investment, trade and finance.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon by telephone with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy.They will discuss in particular the next G20 summit scheduled for early November in Cannes.

Nicolas Sarkozy had announced last night that China could participate in the creation of a "special vehicle" to multiply the firepower of the European Financial Stability (EFSF), the bailout funds in the euro area.

U.S. stocks ended sharply higher Friday as investors welcoming the results exceeded expectations of big names from the coast and anticipating a positive outcome to the crisis of debt in the euro area.

The Dow Jones gained 2.31% or 267.01 points to 11,808.79 points. The Standard & Poor's has been 1.88% or 22.86 points to 1238.25 points.The Nasdaq Composite was awarded 1.49% or 38.84 points to 2637.46 points.

For the week, the Dow rose 1.3%, the S & P 1.1% but the Nasdaq fell 1.1%.

Obstacles remain on the path to solving the crisis in the euro area and major differences still separate France and Germany, but investors appreciate that the leaders of the euro area are set a deadline to Wednesday.

A meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, José Manuel Barroso and Herman van Rompuy will be held Saturday night in Brussels on the eve of the summit of the EU and the euro area on the debt crisis. This meeting will be preceded by a bilateral meeting between French President and German Chancellor.In addition, the principle of a new special meeting of the Eurogroup summit by the euro area on Wednesday, is also acquired.

In addition, the finance ministers of the euro area approved Friday the release of the sixth tranche of aid to Greece. This round of eight billion euros must now be approved by the International Monetary Fund.

This is the third week of up to the S & P, the most since February. The benchmark index fund managers will have to get out of the range 1230 and 1250 in which it tends to evolve.

On the values ​​front, McDonald's reported a better than expected for the third quarter. The value ended with a gain of 3.7% to 92.32 dollars.The index values ​​of consumption has advanced 2.8%.

Honeywell International jumped 5.8% to 51.28 dollars. The industrial group has raised its profit forecast after better than expected quarterly accounts.

General Electric has instead yielded 1.9% to 16.31 dollars. Investors are questioning the lower margin of the power equipment sector industrial conglomerate, in spite of the consolidated results as expected.

The S & P industrials, which includes GE and Honeywell, ended with a gain of 1.9%.

According to data from Thomson Reuters, the 133 companies in the S & P 500 that have released their quarterly accounts on Friday, showed 68% of profits above expectations.

French deputies adopted Monday by 49 votes to 25 against the bill authorizing the state to provide guarantees to the restructuring of the Franco-Belgian bank Dexia to facilitate its dismantling.

The UMP, which holds an absolute majority in the Assembly, and the group of the New Centre (NC) voted this draft supplementary budget ("collective") for 2011, reviewed by expedited review in the Senate turn Wednesday night.

The leftist opposition voted against. "We vote against it because what we present is completely blurred. The minister did not believe," said Christian Eckert (PS).

The left is now a majority in the upper house, the text may be released Wednesday.It will then be made a new reading in the Assembly who constitutionally has the final say.

"The adoption of this supplementary budget is an issue of responsibility. Dexia's customers like the creditors must have confidence that states have kept their word.Our communities in turn can rely on this feature to continue to invest for the benefit of the economy, "said Baroin, the Minister of Economy.

This restructuring plan, arrested Oct. 10 by the board of directors of the group and approved by the Belgian, French and Luxembourg, Dexia provides for the dismantling.

The bank, founded in 1996 with the merger of Crédit local de France and Crédit Communal de Belgique, had already received a bailout in 2008.

The decommissioning plan provides that Dexia France, Belgium and Luxembourg will provide 90 billion euros in guarantees for its financing needs with 60.5% for Belgium, 36.5% for France and 3% Luxembourg.

The new supplementary budget offers a double guarantee.First, the funding will enable Dexia to borrow on the markets with the guarantee of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, the maximum total outstanding amount of 90 billion euros for a period of ten years maximum.

The second guarantee, up to 10 billion euros, is for a fraction of the portfolio of loans to local authorities of Dexia that the new structure controlled by the Deposit (CDSC) and the Post Bank will acquire.

The Belgian part of the rescue of Dexia was temporarily authorized Monday by the European Commission, however, that announces the opening of an investigation to ensure that the operation does not violate the rules on state aid and application Belgium to submit within six months a new restructuring plan of the bank.

Three parties of the government resigned Slovak and the main opposition party have agreed to support a strengthening of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), TA3 television reported Wednesday.

The leaders of three of the four parties in the coalition government had met earlier with Robert Fico, the opposition party Smer, following the rejection by members of the text EFSF reform and the resignation of the government was liable to the vote.

A new vote in Parliament to be held by no later than Friday, said Robert Fico.

The government accepted the holding of early elections in March 2012 and will remain in the opposition Smer thus far, he added.

Slovakia is the last member state of the euro area has not ratified the plan, which strengthens the powers of the EFSF to fight against the debt crisis. Ratification by each of the 17 member countries is required for its entry into force.

A spokesman of the majority party SDKU had previously indicated that a second vote in Parliament could take place as early as Thursday if an agreement was reached with Smer.

The number of Americans entering the unemployment fell to a low of five months last week, and growth figures for the second quarter were revised upward, leaving the markets expect a recession is ultimately not to fear.

The number of jobless rose to 391,000 last week, against 428,000 the one before, said Thursday the Labor Department. This figure is well above expectations, as economists on average had forecast 420,000 jobless.

The Labor Department noted, however, that its adjustments for seasonal variations may have overstated the decline in enrollment.Revised data will be published next Thursday with the first estimate figures this week.

Commerce has meanwhile announced that growth in gross domestic product (GDP) reached 1.3% in the second quarter, according to final figures.

Its previous estimate was counting on only 1.0% growth.So a return to the first estimate, which already provided 1.3% before being downgraded.

Analysts had expected an upward revision, but not as pronounced, with a final figure of 1.2%.

Consumer spending and the trade figures have finally proved better than expected.

GDP figures "suggest that the U.S. economy entered the third quarter in a position a little better.These encouraging news is reinforced by the decline more marked than expected jobless claims, which casts further doubt on the likelihood of a return to recession, "said Joe Manimbo, an analyst at Travelex Global Payments in Washington.

CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM

Political tensions between the United States the Democratic administration and the Republican side, a majority in the House of Representatives, coupled with the impact of the debt crisis in Europe, have eroded confidence and fears of a return of U.S. U.S. recession.

The cautious optimism of economists now expects a further contraction of GDP will be avoided.Production companies continue to grow because, although at a slower pace since the beginning of the recovery.

In detail, the revised figures show, in fact more of a slower growing economy as a future recession.

Export growth is better than initially estimated at 3.6% instead of 3.1%.That of imports, however, is lower at 1.4% against 1.9%.

The trade deficit is lower, and foreign trade contributed to GDP by 0.24 percentage point.

These data support Wall Street, which evolved up to 1600 GMT, while the dollar went further against the yen and the price of Treasuries retreated.

U.S. debt is regarded as a safe investment and attractive in times of uncertainty, but less coveted when the economy recovers.

All indicators are not provided to green the U.S., and the gloom is still required from contractors, according to a study by the Institute "Business Roundtable" and published on Thursday.

According to the report, the outlook for business had deteriorated for the third quarter, and the number of those planning to cut jobs over the next six months more than doubled, from 11% in the second quarter to 24%.

They are more than 65% against 87% three months ago, to provide an increase in sales and only 32% instead of 61% plan to increase their investments.

Interparfums, which Tuesday reported a sharp increase in operating profitability in the first half, think revise upward its forecast for annual sales through the backlog of the new Burberry fragrance line launched this fall.

The designer perfumes under license for luxury brands like Lanvin, Van Cleef & Arpels (Richemont Group), Montblanc or Paul Smith, saw operating profit climb 21% to 26.0 million in the first half, for a record margin of 16%, against 14.3% a year earlier.

The company had already published its sales in late July, marked by a sharp slowdown in the second quarter due to lower sales of old lines of Burberry.

"The current order book of Burberry Body prompted us to significantly strengthen our media budgets on the end of the year, which should lead us to revise upwards our goal of annual sales," says CEO of the company, Philippe Benacin, said in a statement.

Interparfums had said in late July to build on annual sales of 350 million euros, after 306 million in 2010, with the launch of new fragrance called Burberry "Burberry Body".

This launch is crucial for Interparfums which carries more than half of its sales with the Tartan brand, generate significant advertising spending will weigh on profitability in the second half.

The stakes are high for Interparfums because the English brand of ready-to-wear, famous for its trench coats, intends to change the dimension in fragrance with a line she has high expectations.

Burberry has also, until the end of the year, an option to buy back its license, an event previously considered unlikely by management of Interparfums.

The company pursues a strategy of diversification, however, thanks to new licensing agreements signed with Jimmy Choo, Boucheron and Balmain, which allows him to ease the burden of Burberry in its turnover.

Net income rose 33% to 17 million euros.

The fear mongering by Christine Lagarde on the urgent need for recapitalization of banks in Europe are not convinced. Neither the EU nor the analysts or investors. Christine Lagarde is in the race to succeed DSK to head the IMF.

The European Union Monday defended the strength of European banks after the words of the IMF chief Christine Lagarde has called for their "urgent recapitalization" in order to restore market confidence and facilitate access to liquidity. Fearmongering that have not really worried the markets.In Paris, for example, the title Natixis gained 3.72% while Societe Generale and Credit Agricole have completed on increases of 3.61% and 3.37%.

"European banks are better capitalized than a year ago," said the Commissioner of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn, during a hearing before the European Parliament, referring to the results of stress tests published in the European banking sector during the summer. The results of these tests conducted in Europe over 90 banks were made public last July. Institutions that have failed to make decisions to recapitalize within six to nine months, through mergers or asset sales in particular, he said. If this does not work, solutions that require public sector intervention to bail them out would then be considered.

Returning to the turbulence of recent weeks, Mr.Rehn, however, admitted that European banks have faced difficulties recently to finance itself. "We hope that their financing conditions will improve. The banks also have access to liquidity set aside by central banks," he added.

Executive Director of the IMF said "urgent" Saturday to recapitalize European banks so that they are "strong enough to face the risks of public debt and weak growth." "It is essential to stop the contagion," she said, considering that "the most efficient would be a substantial recapitalization required" with private funds and public funds "if necessary".

Asked earlier on the subject, the spokesman for Mr.Rehn, Amadeu Altafaj, stated to see no need to go beyond what is already expected to strengthen bank capital, or make "something extra". "The discussions between the IMF and the EU have already taken place. The IMF knows the results and developments to come," he said.

For their part, several large French banks did not hide their surprise after remarks that do not differentiate between European institutions. "French banks are among the strongest in Europe," we fell on condition of anonymity in one of them, referring to the good report of resistance testing.

French Banking Federation (FBF) declined to comment, referring to a statement of 19 August in which it stressed that the capital levels of French banks were "well above regulatory requirements."The CEO of Crédit Agricole SA Jean-Paul Chifflet on Thursday had dismissed any need for capital increase. He also reassured liquidity: its annual plan is "completed at about 90%," with available reserves of over 120 billion.

Lack of precision?

The words of the boss of the IMF were also found to be inaccurate by some analysts. For Pierre Flabbée, an analyst at Kepler CM, "it seems that the idea of ​​Christine Lagarde whether to restore the normal functioning of the interbank market and banks' access to liquidity, the recapitalization is a necessary step.""Bring the capital would be used to restore market confidence," he noted, saying that the banks involved and the amounts necessary "should be clarified" by Ms. Lagarde.

A second analyst, regretted, on condition of anonymity, the "wrong" timing and lack of detail by Christine Lagarde, while the sector is slowly recovering from false rumors that have recently plunged. Especially that "there is no problem of liquidity in the euro area, and if there was one, the ECB is ready to intervene," he noted.

Several institutions have also noticed that they have strengthened their capital base in preparation for the coming into force from 2013 rules so-called "Basel III" in the G20 countries.According to these regulations, banks must hold capital "hard" accounting for 7% of the loans they give to their clients, against 2% currently.

"I do not think the risk is specific to European banks," said Jean Peyrelevade, chairman of Banca Leonardo France and former head of Credit Lyonnais, Business on BFM. As the problem of indebtedness of the States "is not resolved, there is doubt about the strength of the euro area itself and therefore the banks of the euro zone."

The purchasing power of households would have declined 0.6% year on year, due to increases in energy prices, according to a study of 60 million consumers.

The purchasing power of French households fell by 0.6% in one year due to price increases in the energy sector (fuel, oil, gas ,…), according to a survey of 60 million consumers, the magazine of the National Institute of Consumption (INC), to be published Thursday. "Not surprisingly, the soaring fuel prices and rising gas prices and electricity have rolled the purchasing power of households between June 2010 and June 2011," notes the magazine that publishes an eight-year study the subject.

The oil was up 19%, 13% of automotive fuel, as well as gas (11%) and electricity (6%), significantly affecting the monthly household budget, says 60 million consumers.Rising fuel represents a loss of 16 euros per month, while increases in oil, gas and electricity are cutting back from 13 euros monthly budget. The magazine calculated the evolution of the purchasing power on the basis of monthly income per household. In June 2011, this income amounted to Euro 3226 against 3175 euros a year earlier, an additional monthly income of 51 euros.

But 60 million consumers figure the impact of inflation on the monthly budget to 71 euros, thus causing a decrease in the purchasing power of 20 euros (-0.6%). For all of 2011, the magazine provides a 0.4% decline, unlike INSEE expects a 1% increase. Both indices are in fact calculated on slightly different bases, including that of the 60 million house prices and the cost of credit, which is not the case of INSEE."For four years, the purchasing power continues to decline, except in 2009 (+0.1%), which, however, was the year of the financial crisis" world, notes the magazine.