Amazon has certain ways of looking at the free market which is simply not one that the French state takes. Amazon countered by stating: "All measures that aim to raise the price of books sold online will curb the ability of French people to buy cultural works and discriminates against those who buy online." Terry Craven, a bookseller at Shakespeare and Company in Paris, told BBC News that the new law was "very much" in line with the country's other policies. "The law is part of our cultural heritage," said conservative lawmaker Christian Kert, who sponsored the bill. Like most countries in continental Europe, France has a fixed price law for books in its case, it allows discounts only of up to 5%. The legislation will now go to the Senate, which is expected to pass it by the end of the year. Yesterday, French lawmakers "took aim at Amazon to protect local bookshops" when France's lower chamber, with the support of the Socialist government, passed a law barring online booksellers from offering free delivery to customers, the New York Times reported.
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