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Frédéric Pierucci
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The American Trap: My battle to expose America's secret economic war against the rest of the world Kindle Edition

by Frédéric Pierucci (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 240 ratings
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In 2014, France lost part of the control of its nuclear power plants to the United States. Frédéric Pierucci, former senior executive of one of Alstom's power company subsidiaries, found himself at the heart of this state scandal. His story goes to the very core of how he plotted the key features of the secret economic war that the United States is waging in Europe. And after being silenced for a long time, he has decided, with the help of journalist Matthieu Aron, to reveal all.

In April 2013, Frédéric Pierucci was arrested in New York by the FBI and accused of bribery. The US authorities imprisoned him for more than two years - including fourteen months in a notorious maximum-security prison. In doing so, they forced Alstom to pay the biggest financial penalty ever imposed by the United States. In the end, Alstom also gave up areas of control to General Electric, its biggest American competitor.

Frédéric's story unpacks how the United States is using corporate law as an economic weapon against its own allies. One after the other, some of the world's largest companies are being actively destabilised to the benefit of the US, in acts of economic sabotage that seem to be the beginning of what's to come...

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  1. Print length
    346 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hodder & Stoughton
  4. Publication date
    November 14, 2019
  5. File size
    2694 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A cautionary tale for globe-trotting executives at multinational companies―Bloomberg

A legal thriller―Le Figaro

An extraordinary French industrial saga...a testimony that sends shivers down your spine―Le Journal du Dimanche

This is more a tale of war than a thriller. A 'covert economic war' waged by the United States to weaken U.S. companies' competition―La Croix

A wake-up call for all managers working for international companies... A warning sign for all those multinational companies that risk getting on the radar of the American justice system―Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

About the Author

Former senior executive of Alstom in the Philippines, Frédéric Pierucci's life was turned upside-down on April 4th, 2013 when he was arrested by the FBI under the Foreign Corruption Practice Act that allows the arrest of anyone, anywhere for suspicion of corruption.


Matthieu Aron is a journalist and former associate director of the Nouvel Observateur and former managing editor at France Inter. He has followed Frederic Pierucci's story since the beginning.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07SZKBLTN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton (November 14, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2694 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 240 ratings

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Frédéric Pierucci

Frédéric Pierucci

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4.6 out of 5 stars
240 global ratings

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Customers find the story engaging and the book an essential read for anyone doing business internationally.

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4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it incredible.

"...It is also the incredible story of a executive in a global corporation whose life is wreaked havoc during a corporate trip to a US subsidiary...." Read more

"What an incredible story!..." Read more

"A great story if for anyone who is interested in US Law, Int'l Relations & Trade..." Read more

"Sad and true story but extremely biased perspective..." Read more

3 customers mention "Reading quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and useful for anyone doing business internationally.

"Interesting read on how the US undermines European multinationals for the benefit of US based organizations. Chillingly ruthless, and heartless." Read more

"...A fascinating and must-have reading." Read more

"A wonderful book, indispensable reading for anyone doing business internationally..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book, indispensable reading for anyone doing business internationally
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    While I enjoy the pages more than any suspense thriller, I feel bad deriving pleasure from the trauma the author went through. His condemnation of the US legal hegemony, their moral hypocrisy, is poignant and heartrending. Any business executive still naively falling into the American trap cannot have read this book. I also like one recommendation the author offered - avoid using US dollar as much as possible. Though that’s easier said than done, there are more and more digital options available.

    Meng Wenzhou, the CFO of HUAWEI, was just released from Canada when I read this book. She fell into a similar American trap, a potentially much nastier one give the American paranoias with China. The outcome, however, cannot be more different. Meng did not plead guilty. She had the full support of HUAWEI and the Chinese government. The author was right - you have to stand up and fight, it’s a war, they take prisoners!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Fredrick Ruoro
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting read on how the US undermines European multinationals for the benefit of US based organizations. Chillingly ruthless, and heartless.
    Helpful
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  • Henry Lee
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great story if for anyone who is interested in US Law, Int'l Relations & Trade
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    1 note tho - The author's central message has always been "They (former Supervisors, former CEOs, former higher-up-managements) had been doing that for ages, why weren't they arrested? Why me?" It really was unlucky for the feds to pick him over the others.
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  • Antoine F.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible eye-opening story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book describes how the USA is wielding its soft power to dominate the world. It explains how the DOJ is using the extra territoriality laws to bend foreign corporations to the advantage of big American corporations. There is no morality, no justice, only full hypocrisy and use of force. Against this situation, the Europeans look incredibly powerless.
    It is also the incredible story of a executive in a global corporation whose life is wreaked havoc during a corporate trip to a US subsidiary.
    A fascinating and must-have reading.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • ATI
    5.0 out of 5 stars Breath Taking and MUST to read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I couldn't sleep over two nights to finish this book. I am shocked about how and what has been happening and what is holding for the new decade. I am also scared. This book moved my attitude not only about whats happening in international trade level, about US judicial system, it also took me to the day to day life in a max security prisons in US.

    I definitely recommend this book to everyone, specially to the following groups:

    1) Law student: please what ever they feed us in law school is not even the minimum bar for what we really need to know. read this to understand how FCPA works and how over DOJ system take actions.

    2) Corporate executives: Yes you need to read this before you accept any promotions specially if you are working for an International company.

    3) Everyone who likes to read a horror political/economic yet true story: Be ready to hold your book for 24 hours non stop, I suggest a pillow for your armrest!
    24 people found this helpful
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  • H. Keeton
    5.0 out of 5 stars WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD THINKS ABOUT THE USA.....????
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    READ THIS BOOK FOR A REAL-LIFE VERSION OF POWER-POLITICS....DESTROYING OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES...PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE....AND WHO HAVE NO REASON TO DISLIKE US...UNTIL WE DO TO THEM WHAT WE DID TO HIM. AND WE DO THIS WITH IMPUNITY...CAUSE THEY CAN'T FIGHT-BACK. KINDA LIKE KICKING THE SMALLEST KID IN THE SCHOOL-YARD...AND THINKING HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE....
    4 people found this helpful
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  • S. E.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Sad and true story but extremely biased perspective
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I find it surprising that the author was not aware of FCPA and its implications and while it sheds light on a lot of problems regarding the justice system of the US, it provides a very biased perspective. The biggest problem in all the challenges Frederic Pierucci went through was the CEO of Alstom, having a bad lawyer, and the lack of support from the French government, and yet I think due to his (justified) anger, he presents a perspective with some missing pieces. I also think the problems associated with the justice system are systematic problems that the US needs to address, but unfortunately, many countries, including France, have different problems with their justice system. This is not to defend what happened to the author but to put things in perspective.

    In addition, the book reads more like a memoir rather than a structured book regarding "America's economic war," with way too many details regarding his prison days.

    I think the book is worth only a quick read because of all the buzz around the subject and the book, but there were way too many details regarding his time in the prison and the arguments regarding his claims are not well structured. I honestly think he was able to ride the wave of "Anti-Americanism" but the book lacks real substance...
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Kayan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    What an incredible story!
    There are so many people who still take the US as the country of "real" democracy and justice, consider it a "gardian" of international peace and prosperity, but is it so?
    There are more and more wicked countries and governments in the world now. From when and where did this vicious cycle begin?
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Carlos Yeverino
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Bought
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 25, 2024
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    Recommended
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  • FGHM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent portrait of US justice system and how it systemically conspires with big US corporates and political elites (US and non-US). Despite all the details and facts, the book is very easy to read.

    Surrounded by lies and partial facts from mainstream media, I am grateful for Mr Pierucci’s courage to tell the brutal truths. I am saddened but not at all surprised that such an astonishing account is largely under the radar in the west. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to wake up to the real world.
    Report
  • Emilie
    5.0 out of 5 stars a must read
    Reviewed in France on January 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book in a few days only. It was riveting. I cant believe i have missed this whole story back then. The media coverage was so one-sided..
    I feel so sorry for the author, and respectful of him for not giving up.
    Report
  • LenaMalina
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wichtig und hochbrisant! Unbedingte Kaufempfehlung!
    Reviewed in Germany on June 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    USA sind mit der EU verbündet? Von wegen!

    Das Buch von 2019 ist aktueller denn je.
    Es liest sich wie ein Krimi, ist aber traurige Realität.

    Die USA haben eine Reihe von Gesetzen (z.B. FCPA) erschaffen, mit Hilfe derer unter dem Vorwand der Korruptionsbekämpfung sie sich inernationale Verbrechen leisten. So kann sich die USA-Machtelite vor allem durch komplette Infiltration des Department Of Justice an große Europäische Konzerne machen, um diese aufzukaufen oder zu entkernen.

    Dabei benutzen sie Taktiken, die haarsträubend sind. Unschuldige Menschen werden in Hochsicherheitsgefängnissen Jahrelang festgehalten, Politiker und Politikerinnen werden mundtot gemacht. Und es wird klar: Die staatliche Souverenität der Europäischen Staaten ängt nur noch am seidenen Faden (das ist Stand 2019, der Faden mag schon gerissen sein).

    Und hochbrisant ist, dass die meisten der politischen Figuren, die teil des Verbrechens sind, weiterhin in der Poltik sind!

    Im Schlußwort schreibt der Autor:

    At the time I'm finishing writing this book, with Matthieu Aron, I have been free for five weeks. My family, my parents, my friends, all advise me to take a break, so away, relax.

    It's not the right time. I don't want to be like those prisoners who, broken by the trauma of their prison experience, try to replenish their strength, or, feeling lost faced by the blank page that opens in front of them, attempt to forget all by forging themselves a new path. I don't want to 'move on'. I want to continue the fight. I want to serve. This is a war.

    Francois Metterrand, at the end of his term of office, confiding in Georges-Marc Benamou, was right when he said: 'France does not know it, but we are at war with America. Yes, a permanent war, a vital war, an economic war, a war without death, on the surface. And yet a war to death.'

    This is not *my war. This is *our war*. This is a war that is more sophisticated than conventional warfare, more insidious than industrial warfare, a war that the public are unaware of, a war of the *law*.
    ([...] 'law fare').
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  • ILDIKO PINTER
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reality at its best
    Reviewed in Italy on July 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book is recomended to everyone from high school on.
    It is a precise description of how the world goes, written in a totally enjoyable way
    Report

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