The French government has introduced new legislation that could impose a minimum shipping fee for new books in a move to protect its book industry from Amazon (Seattle) and the online behemoth’s shipping discounts, according to Reuters.
This would be the latest efforts from the French government to combat Amazon’s grip on its book market. Senator Laure Dracos drafted the law, citing that it would help to regulate “distorted competition.” Bookstores in Paris were reportedly able to maintain 70 percent of their business during Covid-19 lockdowns due to government reimbursed shipping fees.
Amazon has begun to lobby against the new legislation that’s been adopted by parliament but not enacted, citing that its shipping has allowed for “equal access” to more rural areas of the country. As of now there is no set date for the legislation to be enacted.