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France is the second-largest trading nation in western Europe (after Germany). After experiencing a modest surplus in its foreign trade balance in 2001, France ran an exceptional $9.6 billion surplus in 2002 due to a 3.5 percent decline in imports, only partially offset by a 1.5 percent decrease in exports. Total trade for 2001 amounted to $618.1 billion, over one-third of GDP. Trade with EU countries accounts for 60% of French trade.
In 2002, U.S.-France trade in goods and services totaled some $60 billion. According to French trade data, U.S. exports accounted for 7.9% of France's total imports. U.S. industrial chemicals, aircraft and engines, electronic components, telecommunications, computer software, computers and peripherals, analytical and scientific instrumentation, medical instruments and supplies, broadcasting equipment, and programming and franchising are particularly attractive to French importers.
Principal French exports to the United States are aircraft and engines, beverages, electrical equipment, chemicals, cosmetics, and luxury products. France is the ninth-largest trading partner of the United States.
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