Some thoughts about French books diffusion abroad

The French book abroad seems to be in an awkward predicament. The figures of the Syndicat national de l'édition (National union for publishing) and the customs statistics show that, between 1973 and 1983, export trades have been stagnant, if not waning, when import trades have been improving. An inclusive policy is hard to follow, because of the multiple authorities (7) involved in the book trade; this multiplicity can be explained by the ambiguous nature of the book : it is a cultural object as well as a commercial item. The foreseen solutions would necessarily include a strict evaluation : definition of specific actions for breach of contract between the Government and the publishers, establishment of a verification structure and appointment of managers locally trained.
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