Instead, the measures have ignited a nationwide backlash. Small businesses are revolting against what they say is unfair competition from dominant retailers — especially Amazon — that continue to sell items the shopkeepers can’t. Politicians and trade groups have joined the outcry, forcing President Emmanuel Macron’s government to scramble to come up with a new game plan. Since smaller stores can’t sell such items, the thinking goes, big stores shouldn’t be allowed to, either. Electronics retailers including Fnac, a large French retail chain, must rope off videos, books, televisions and other items deemed “not essential” for teleworking from home.

Source: International New York Times November 03, 2020 20:48 UTC