France's Finance Minister Sorry BNP Paribas Showed Flagrant Disregard For Law He's Not Sure Bank Really Needed To Follow

France's finance minister said on Sunday that talks between BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) and U.S. authorities over a potential fine for the bank for breaching U.S. sanctions had progressed towards a "more equitable" level. U.S. authorities - five of them in all, including the New York financial regulator - are investigating whether BNP evaded U.S. sanctions against Iran and other countries between 2002 and 2009..."What is being criticized by the U.S. authorities is the violation of a strictly American law. The same acts committed in France in euros would not have been reprehensible," [Michel] Sapin said. "That said, it is the American law, it should have been respected." [Reuters, related]