A coalition of thousands of French retailers has sued the Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein, accusing it of unfair competition, according to the French Retail Council, a move that escalated a backlash against the company in France this week, the New York Times reported. The class action suit, filed on Wednesday in a commercial court in southern France, was brought on by 12 federations and 100 large French brands.

he French government is preparing to sue a British private equity firm over claims it short-changed a failed local steelmaker, The Telegraph reported. Roland Lescure, the French finance minister, said the government would be “uncompromising” as he accused Greybull of failing to follow through on investment pledges for Novasco, which is based in Hagondange, a city in north east France. The situation has led to months of uncertainty for the 700 people employed by Novasco, after the company was placed into administration in August – a year after it was taken over by Greybull.

Gauzy Ltd. has announced that insolvency proceedings have been initiated by the Commercial Court of Lyon, France, affecting three of its French subsidiaries, leading to a postponement of its third-quarter financial results originally scheduled for November 14, QuiverQuant.com reported. The company firmly opposes the court's ruling, plans to appeal the decision, and is currently collaborating with the appointed administrators to resolve the situation. Despite the legal challenges, Gauzy intends to maintain normal business operations and ensure financial stability for its subsidiaries.

German manufacturing orders and industrial production in France rebounded in September, signaling a recovery in the factory sector after trade uncertainty dented demand over the summer, the Wall Street Journal reported. Total orders rose 1.1% on month in Germany, swinging from a 0.4% fall in August, statistics agency Destatis said Wednesday. Meanwhile, industrial output in France climbed 0.8% on month, offsetting much of the 0.9% fall in the prior month, France’s statistics agency Insee said.

The wine industry in Bordeaux is facing a deep crisis, with falling demand, declining prices, and a growing number of vineyards at risk of abandonment. In response, the Confédération Paysanne de Gironde has called for the creation of a public land management agency to help steer the region through this difficult period, Vinetur reported. The proposal was presented on Thursday at a meeting of the prefecture’s viticulture task force in Gironde.

The latest tour operator to land in bankruptcy proceedings is the expedition cruise line Exploris Expeditions & Voyages. Based out of Nantes in France, the cruise operator was placed under receivership by a local judge. "Unfortunately, we have a small cash flow problem that has been exacerbated by this last-minute cancellation by a major charterer, which has made things extremely difficult for us," Expedis VP Éric Lustman said in a statement translated from French.

French President Emmanuel Macron is ready to call timeout on his signature pension overhaul to save what remains of his presidency, the Wall Street Journal reported. Macron’s newly reappointed prime minister on Tuesday proposed suspending increases in France’s retirement age until after the next presidential election in 2027, a bid to calm a political storm that threatens to take down France’s fourth government in less than a year.

French president Emmanuel Macron has called for an urgent plan for stability after the resignation his prime minister triggered a surge in borrowing costs, The Telegraph reported.

French industrial production unexpectedly fell back again in August in a sign that the country’s political deadlock is weighing on activity, adding to pressures on wider European industry, the Wall Street Journal reported. Output was 0.7% lower on month, figures from France’s statistics office Insee showed Friday. After a revised 0.1% fall in July and against economists’ expectations for a rebound, August’s decline is the fourth in five months, underscoring the challenges facing French industry.

French healthcare group Emeis, fresh off a 2024 rebrand from Orpea, is selling a chunk of its real estate business to Farallon Capital and TwentyTwo Real Estate – trimming nearly €700 million from its debt while staying in charge of its care homes, Finimize.com reported. Emeis is making a big shift in European healthcare real estate by splitting off its operated properties through a new partnership with Farallon Capital and TwentyTwo Real Estate. The deal means Emeis will surpass its asset sale goal by €300 million, with the two investors pledging €761 million by the end of 2025.