We sometimes have to look far for our components

The decline of the "made in France" is indeed a reality, and it occurs in most of the French industrial sectors. It is the report prepared by the Observatory of "made in France", created within the Ministry of industry, and who has encrypted first the part of the products manufactured in France in our economy.

It is apparent that the products assembled in France contain fewer French components: 69 in 2009, up from 75 in 1999. This trend is more pronounced in certain sectors, in particular the railway, where the French components in the production share fell 17 points in ten years, 62. Aerospace is also concerned by this trend, but the fact that Airbus is manufactured on a European scale complicates the analysis of the data.

Often stigmatized for his penchant to buy more abroad, the automotive industry has seen its share of French components declined by only three points in ten years, 64. Only three areas on the studied ten provide more in France 1999: shipbuilding, technology information, and the fashion and luxury. In the latter case, this evolution can be explained by the fact that only the high-end products are kept in French territory.

Another indicator measured by the Observatory, the proportion of the products manufactured in France on all of the products consumed is also declining. It declined 4 points between 1999 and 2009, to fall to 62, with a very net stall for automobile (-14 points, to 43), the shipbuilding industry (-15 points to 67) and consumer goods (-13 points, 45).

Finally, the Observatory has put his finger on the reversal of the French trade balance, in which the automotive industry, become net importer since 2008, has contributed. The results that encourage the Ministry of industry to support the creation of the label "made in France", subject of a report of the Member of Parliament Yves Jégo, published in May. "An administrative mission is currently in connection with Yves Jégo, on the development of laws and regulations on transparency and traceability," Christian Estrosi said yesterday.

To critics, especially those in Brussels, the Minister of industry says "claim" and "assume" a dose of protectionism. Need to "protect the plant, the worker, technician, engineer and their material grey and know-how we have lost a number of them since ten years in large proportions", said Christian Estrosi.

"Interest" of the label

The manufacturers if they appreciate that the Government looks at the "made in France", doubt however, the effectiveness of a label. Claude Cham, President of the FIEV, which includes auto OEMs, considers its "complex" establishment. "". We sometimes have to look far for our components. In addition, if these measures were protectionist elements, we could not support because we operate in a global market.

Claude Charrier, Director General of the FIM (Federation of mechanical industries), pointed out that such designation has only an "interest" in the professional world where "the client is especially attached to the performance and the design of the product." To justify such a label, "should be that a company can justify the detail of the degree of manufacturing in France of its products, which could turn into a gas plant.