At the top of the news headlines is the ongoing war in the Middle East, involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. This conflict has sparked a heated debate in the National Assembly this afternoon, Wednesday, March 25. Environmental and left-wing political groups have pushed for discussions on the “respect for international law by the United States and Israel” as well as “France’s objectives and implications” in the conflict. Prior to the debate, the Prime Minister announced a significant investment of €8.5 billion in ammunition by 2030, in addition to the €16 billion already allocated, as part of updated military programming laws. This plan will be presented to the Council of Ministers on April 8 and discussed in the Assembly during the week of May 4.
The Prime Minister emphasized that this investment in ammunition is not only a military concern but also an industrial and sovereignty issue. Additionally, the creation of “France Munitions,” a wholesaler of ammunition, was announced to meet the needs of the French armed forces and allies. These announcements come amidst continuing missile strikes, with President Donald Trump revealing a 15-point peace plan to Iran on March 25, including a proposed one-month ceasefire. However, the chances of reaching agreements remain slim, raising questions about France’s role in the conflict.
Guests invited to discuss these matters include Jean-Michel Jacques, a deputy from Morbihan, Maya Khadra, a Middle East specialist, and Mathieu Plane, the deputy director of analysis and forecasting at OFCE. The conversation will also feature segments from Lou Fritel and David Revault d’Allones.
In other news, since March 1, France has implemented a €2 tax on certain items purchased from major e-commerce platforms to combat the influx of “small packages” under €150 exempted from customs duties from China. Companies like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress have been accused of circumventing this tax by shipping goods by air to non-European countries and then transporting them by road to France.
To address this issue, customs agents’ powers have been expanded, allowing them to inspect e-commerce parcels that have been pre-cleared in another EU country on French soil. Starting in July, the €2 French tax will be combined with a €3 EU customs duty per ordered item. This French tax is expected to be replaced by a similar 100% European system in November 2026 to standardize regulations across the single market. In 2025, 5.8 billion small parcels were delivered in Europe, with 97% coming from China.
Guests invited to discuss this topic are Philippe Latombe, a deputy from Vendée, Gregory Caret, the director of UFC-Que Choisir’s consumer observatory, and Julien Guibert, a deputy from Nièvre representing the National Rally party. The effectiveness of these new measures remains to be seen.
