representatives of the main brands received Tuesday at the Ministry of the Economy

Representatives of the main distribution brands are invited on Tuesday September 19 at 9:30 a.m. to the Ministry of the Economy, franceinfo learned from Bercy on Monday. After the announcement by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Saturday of the authorization of the loss-making sale of fuels, Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, confirmed that he hoped for this measure to be implemented on December 1 for a period of six months.

>> Fuel prices: six questions on selling at a loss by distributors, which the government wants to authorize

The government wants a temporary legalization of the sale of fuel at a loss to respond to the rise in gasoline prices at the pump, in a context of inflation. The provision is to be included in the bill advancing commercial negotiations between supermarkets and their agribusiness suppliers which is due to be presented in early October by the government.

This temporary authorization of sales at a loss raises fears of too much competition from large stores against small independent service stations, an argument raised by several opposition elected officials. The government received the professional union Mobilians, which represents 5,800 service stations excluding supermarkets, on Monday to present the planned measures. Its president, Francis Pousse, had warned, as early as Sunday: it was for him “out of the question” to sell gasoline at a loss.