Britain could lose many millions due to French boycott

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday April 22, 2003 16:28 by economic sanctions

CONSUMER REACTION TO WAR Britain could lose many millions of pounds worth of business in France because of a possible consumer boycott prompted by the Iraq war, according to a poll.

CONSUMER REACTION TO WAR

Britain could lose many millions of pounds worth of business in France because of a possible consumer boycott prompted by the Iraq war, according to a poll.

More than one in 10 French consumers are less likely to buy British as a result of Prime Minister Tony Blair's hardline stance, the poll suggests.

Only 1 in 100 French are more likely to buy British because of the war, according to the survey by PR company Weber Shandwick, which also revealed anti-British sentiment in Germany.

The survey found that 10% of German consumers said they were less likely to buy British - although this was balanced by 7% who said they were more likely.

According to Government figures, the UK exported goods worth just over £18bn to France and over £21bn to Germany in 2002.

US companies could be hit even harder than those from the UK, according to the survey conducted between April 11 and April 13.

A huge 17% of French people surveyed said they were less likely to buy American, balanced by 4% who said they were more likely.

Interviews with British consumers found 11% claiming to be less likely to buy American, compared with 4% claiming to be more likely.

In Germany, 13% said they were less likely to buy American, against 9% who said they were more likely.