Amazon has lodged an appeal in France's highest administrative court against the country's €3 minimum delivery fee for online book shipments. The company claims that the fee, which was introduced in December 2021, is a violation of EU rules designed to curb its market power. The fee has been imposed by the French government to assist independent bookshops and to provide them with the opportunity to compete directly with Amazon.
Amazon previously charged only one euro cent for the delivery of books in France. However, the new regulation means that the company must now charge a minimum of €3 per new book delivered. Amazon has characterised the move as an attack on the company and a tactic of abuse of power, which could potentially harm consumers.
In a statement, Amazon France Director General Frédéric Duval warned that the measure would limit French people's access to books during a time when purchasing power is a major concern. The European Commission had earlier expressed similar concerns and warned that the law could potentially conflict with EU ecommerce rules.
During the pandemic lockdowns in France, shipping costs for independent bookstores were covered, which helped to boost their online sales. However, lawmakers remained concerned that unfair competition from Amazon could still cause retailers to miss out on an anticipated ecommerce boom. Amazon's legal challenge will determine the extent to which French policymakers may regulate e-commerce in future.