The French government is studying the possibility of additional clearance periods to help companies, such as apparel and footwear retailers, to eliminate stocks accumulated during Covid-19-related lockdowns.
In an RTL radio interview, the French Economy and Finance minister Bruno Le Maire said “we are studying two options which could be complementary.” One option would be to authorize the liquidation of inventories outside regulated clearance periods. The other option would be to provide additional financial aid to businesses if compensation obtained through a solidarity fund is not sufficient, the minister explained.
On March 20, the French government reintroduced a four-week lockdown in 16 French administrative areas, known as départments, including the eight that form the Paris region. Overall, 21 million inhabitants are affected by the measure.
