The French government is getting into a state over Washington’s plans to fine France’s biggest bank -BNP Paribas – as much as $10 billion (7.3 billion euros).<br /><br />BNP is currently negotiating with US authorities over alleged evasion of American sanctions against Iran, Sudan and Syria. Reportedly the settlement could be much higher than the $1.1 billion (806 million euros) which the bank had previously set aside.<br /><br />Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said a fine was normal for violations but it “has to be proportionate and reasonable”. He added: “These figures are not reasonable.”<br /><br />In a television interview Fabius also warned this could could have an impact on transatlantic free trade talks.<br /><br />US authorities – including the Justice Department, New York state’s top banking regulator and the Manhattan District Attorney – have accused BNP of removing identifying information from electronic transfers of money so they could pass through the US financial system without raising suspicion. <br /><br />It is claimed that went on from 2002 to 2009. <br /><br />Sources familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that as well as the fine there could be other penalties, such as a possible temporary suspension of the BNP’s authority to clear US dollar transactions.<br /><br />The comments from Fabius came just days before US President Barack Obama was due to meet President Francois Hollande in Paris.<br /><br />Ties between the two allies already strained over the United States’ handling of the Syrian crisis and France’s reluctance to cancel a deal to sell helicopter carriers to Russia.<br /><br />with Reuters