The French Minister for Transport is announcing a new tax on lorries that would come into effect in 2020. Carriers from France are opposed to the levy.
The share of road carriers in the financing of transport infrastructure will be discussed in the Parliament in the coming weeks” – confirmed on Tuesday the head of the French Ministry of Transport, Élisabeth Borne.
Talks about the new French government levy ran from July 2017.
As underlined by Borne, the tax is to be charged in particular to foreign truck vehicles.
I believe that everyone can be surprised to see the innumerable heavy goods vehicles that cross the country, which generates the demand for infrastructure. Trucks also pose problems related to road safety, and those that come from abroad do not participate in road financing at all” – justifies the minister.
According to Borne, such a levy could bring “several hundred million euros” (according to the daily Les Echos, 550 million euros per year), but it should not be implemented in 2019. The tax rate can be expected in 2020 at earliest.
Hidden Ecotax?
The French media comments that the new tax is a hidden ecotax that was abolished in 2013 after protests, especially from the British side.
After Tuesday’s speech of Minister Borne, the French Federation of Road Transport (FNTR), expressed a strong opposition.
Our position on this matter has not changed – says FNTR CEO Florence Berthelot Figaro. – We oppose the return of tax regardless of its nature. The government can expect a harsh reaction. They dare to speak about several hundred million euros, while road users generate 39 billion euros in annual tax revenues – adds indignant Figaro.
Photo: Wikimedia/EU2017 EE Estonian Presidency CCA 2.0 Generic
