The French Ministry of Industry and Trade is actively strengthening its economic intelligence apparatus to protect the nation's strategic industrial sectors and technological sovereignty. This initiative, led by Minister Roland Lescure, aims to anticipate global economic shifts and shield French companies from foreign interference and unfair competitive practices.
A key focus is on securing critical supply chains and emerging technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and green energy. The government is coordinating with business leaders and intelligence agencies to identify vulnerabilities and develop countermeasures against economic espionage and coercive practices by foreign state actors.
The strategy involves enhancing early warning systems for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), about geopolitical risks and market manipulations. This forms part of a broader European push for greater economic resilience, as seen in the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument and efforts to de-risk strategic dependencies.
Officials emphasize that this defensive posture is essential for maintaining France's industrial base and innovation edge in an increasingly contested global economy. The approach balances open market principles with the need to protect core economic and security interests from adversarial forces.
