Is the Macron, Saad\u00e9 bromance on the rocks? Sensational, multi-billion euro record profits for CMA CGM are clashing with blanket hausse des prix<\/em> (cost of living) headlines, with France skirting close to recession amid rampant inflation.<\/p>\n Yesterday France\u2019s finance minister took aim at CMA CGM, and other transport and energy companies, warning them to share some of their profits or risk the wrath of government.<\/p>\n \u201cA small number of companies have during the crisis made profits in sectors such energy or transport \u2026 I want them to give me strong proposals so that they give back a part of their profits to the French people,\u201d Le Maire told C News TV<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can take the form of rebate on fuel prices or proposals by transport firms like CMA CGM. If they choose against not doing more, we will take our responsibilities,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n According to Reuters, Le Maire has CMA CGA specifically to reduce the cost of transporting materials used by the construction sector.<\/p>\n Earlier in the week<\/em>, Le Maire had urged energy giant TotalEnergies to extend and increase rebates at the pump.<\/p>\n CMA CGM, which posted a record net profit of $18bn last year, is on track to make even more money in 2022.<\/p>\n President Emanuel Macron has to date had very close ties with Rodolphe Saad\u00e9, the chairman of CMA CGM, France\u2019s largest shipping line, agreeing to help the line out financially at the start of the pandemic<\/a><\/span>, visiting CMA CGM headquarters repeatedly as well as getting Saad\u00e9 involved in a variety of maritime initiatives.<\/p>\n The global rhetoric against record profit-making liners shows little sign of easing. In the US earlier this month, president Joe Biden went as far as saying he\u2019d like to have a \u201cpop\u201d at the container lines.<\/p>\n After the US recently introduced federal legislation to have greater oversight on liner activities<\/a><\/span>, calls are growing for other jurisdictions, notably the UK, to follow suit. The UK has recently enacted windfall taxes on oil and gas producers.<\/p>\n