France: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

France is a major actor in global trade. It is the world's ninth exporter and sixth importer of merchandise (WTO, 2021), and trade represents 60.8% of the country's GDP (World Bank, 2021). France exports essentially pharmaceutical products, aircrafts, vehicles, food products (wine), turbines and beauty products. The country imports vehicles, hydrocarbons, pharmaceutical products and many consumer goods (Comtrade). After collapsing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trade volumes rebounded in 2021 and remained high in 2022. According to IMF data, the volume of exports of goods and services increased by 6.9% compared to 2021, and the volume of imports increased by 6.7%. The IMF expects the volume of exports and imports to grow at a slower pace in 2023 (respectively +1.5% and +1.6%) and to accelerate in 2024 (respectively +3.7% and +3.2%).

France's main trade partners are the European Union (Germany being the 1st customer and supplier), the United States and China. The impact of the departure of the UK from the EU (Brexit) still raises many questions and may lead to a reorganisation of trade relations. The UK is currently France’s 6th customer and 8th supplier (Comtrade, 2021).

France registers a strong structural trade deficit. While the goods balance is structurally in deficit as the country is a net energy importer, the services balance is in surplus thanks to tourism revenues. According to WTO data, in 2021, France exported goods with a total value of USD 584.8 billion, while it imported them for a total value of USD 714.1 billion. As for the services, France exported around USD 303 billion worth services in 2021, while it imported services for the total value of USD 258.3 billion. Since 2015, the balance of goods and services excluding energy has become negative, as the deficit in manufactured goods continues to widen, mainly due to the relocation of automobile production and investment in imported machinery. Imports are developing quickly, as the French population buys a substantial amount of imported goods, which are sold at cheaper prices on the local market compared with products that are 'Made in France'. Despite the government's efforts to favour innovation, French exports have a relatively low added value. In 2021, the trade deficit excluding services reached USD 79.5 billion  (World Bank). According to the latest data published by INSEE (Points de Conjoncture, December 2022), in 2022 exports of goods and services increased by 8.1% compared to 2021, while imports increased by 8.9%. Despite limited trade with Russia, the war in Ukraine contributes to the deterioration of the external situation and a slowdown in activity in Europe. The weaker demand will hamper the rebound of key sectors such as aeronautics, and the automotive industry (Coface).

Main Partner Countries

Source: UN Comtrade Database, Latest data available.

Main Products

Source: UN Comtrade Database, Latest data available.

To go further, check out our service Import export flows.

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest data available.

Source: World Bank, Latest data available.

Find out all the exchange rates daily on our service Currency converter.

Trade Compliance

International Conventions

Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Party to the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls For Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies
Party to the International Coffee Agreement

International Economic Cooperation

France is a member of the following international economic organisations: ICC, European Union, WTO, European Economic Area, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IMF, OECD, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates France click here. International organisation membership of France is also outlined here.

Free Trade Agreements

The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by France can be consulted here.

Party of the ATA Convention on Temporary Admissions and Use of the Carnets

Yes

As a Reminder, the ATA is a System Allowing the Free Movement of Goods Across Frontiers and Their Temporary Admission Into a Customs Territory With Relief From Duties and Taxes. The Goods Are Covered By a Single Document Known as the ATA Carnet That is Secured By an International Guarantee System.

Party of the TIR Convention

Yes

As a Reminder, the TIR Convention and its Transit Regime Contribute to the Facilitation of International Transport, Especially International Road Transport, Not Only in Europe and the Middle East, But Also in Other Parts of the World, Such as Africa and Latin America.

Accompanying Documents For Imports

Within the European Union, goods originating in the EU community can move freely and are exempt from customs formalities.

The documents which have to accompany the goods when they are delivered inside the EU community are the following:
-Bill of lading or airway bill
-Certificate of origin
- Commercial invoice
- Declaration of an antique

For a transaction outside the EU community, you have to add:
- Import licenses
- Certifications
- Single Administrative Document (SAD)
- Health certificate

To go further, check out our service Shipping documents.

Free-trade zones

France counts with one free-trade zone, located in the port of Bordeaux.

For Further Information

French Customs website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery

Non Tariff Barriers

At the European level, agricultural products are protected within the Common Agricultural Policy and textile products from China, Belarus, North Korea, Montenegro, Kosovo and Uzbekistan are subject to particular formalities and import licenses or control procedures (export document, monitoring document).
At the national level, trade in plants and seeds, aircraft and other goods has to be declared; they have to be certified respectively by the GNIS (the national interprofessional organization for seeds and plants), the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Agriculture. Among the non-tariff barriers are France's regulations and bureaucratic procedures, its complex safety standards and its testing and certification requirements.

Sectors or Products For Which Commercial Disagreements Have Been Registered With the WTO

Agricultural products: cereals, bananas, poultry, appellations of geographical origin, garlic, salmon, sardines, sugar, wine, corn, coffee, melted cheese, rice.
Computer material, films and television programs, merchant vessels, civil aircraft, steel and cotton.

Assessment of Commercial Policy

The WTO pages devoted to France
Barriers to exchanges, inventoried by the United States

Standards

National Standards Organisations

AFNOR, the French standardisation association
UTE, Technical Union of Electricity
ETSI, European Telecommunications Standards Institute

Integration in the International Standards Network

At the European level:
- CEN, European Committee for Standardisation
- CENELEC, European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation

At the international level:
- International Standards Organisation (ISO)
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

Obligation to Use Standards

Products are subject to the European Union's legislation (General product safety Directive, technical legislation) as well as to the national French legislation.

Conformity to standards is compulsory for products such as machines, tools, electrical appliances, sports equipment, toys etc. This list continues to grow. Goods which have complex technology or are potentially dangerous must submit to rigorous testing and approval procedures before they can be marketed in France.

Classification of Standards

NF is the national certification mark.
CE is the European certification mark. It is compulsory for a country to be able to sell on the market.

Assessment of the System of Standardization

French people are receptive to standards being observed; the NF mark or the ISO 9000 certification are well known to consumers and firms and they are appreciated for their guarantee of the quality and safety of products and services.

Online Consultation of Standards

AFNOR
The on-line catalog of European standards
The ISO catalog
The most important standardisation programmes (Website in French)

Certification Organisations

See the list of independent organisations which issue the NF mark with AFNOR accreditation.

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