Trading Partner Portal: France
Overview
Interview Series Featuring California’s Key Trading Partners – Featuring Consuls General of France Julie Duhaut-Bedos in Los Angeles and Frederic Jung in San Francisco – Economic Diversity, Foreign Investment Ties Inspire Long-Lasting Partnership in Trade
CalChamber, December 8, 2020
Trade Overview
According to the World Bank, France is a high-income developed country in Europe. It has a population of 66.1 million people with a corresponding nominal GDP of $3.16 trillion. It is the most visited country in the world, with 107.1 million tourists in 2020. France is a member of the European Union (EU). The EU and U.S. trade relationship is the largest in the world. The European Union is the largest merchandise and service trading partner of the United States, and they have succeeded with healthy flows of foreign direct investment both ways. France has a diverse economy with various sectors. The government has successfully privatized numerous companies in a variety of markets, such as telecommunication and Air France. World Bank
U.S. – France Trade
France is the 11th largest export destination of goods for the United States. In 2024, the United States exported around $43.55 billion worth of products to France. The main exports were transportation equipment ($11.75 billion), oil and gas ($7.02 billion), chemicals ($5.05 billion), and computer/electronic products ($3.55 billion), and non-electrical machinery ($2.91 billion). Two-way trade between both countries totaled $103.33 billion.
The United States imported approximately $59.78 billion worth of goods in 2024. Chemicals were the top import into the U.S. from France, totaling $12.42 billion. This was followed by transportation equipment ($11.41 billion), beverages and tobacco products ($4.93 billion), non-electrical machinery ($4.28 billion), and goods returned ($3.68 billion).
France – California Trade
California is one of the top exporting states to France with a total of $2.81 billion worth of goods being exported to France in 2024. The main export categories included computer and electronic products ($531 million), transportation equipment ($403 million), chemicals ($344 million), fabricated metals manufactures ($260 million), and used or second-hand merchandise ($249 million).
California is also one of the largest state importers from France, importing $3.86 billion worth of goods from France. California’s #1 import from France was beverages and tobacco products totaling around $749 million in 2024. Other key imports were computer and electronic products ($487 million), transportation equipment ($389 million), leather & allied products ($247 million), and goods returned ($229 million). U.S. Department of Commerce
FDI – France
France and the United States also have a strong foreign direct investment (FDI) relationship. In 2023, the U.S. had approximately $100.1 billion dollars of FDI flow into France. On the other hand, France had a little over $243.5 billion worth of FDI flowing into the United States in 2023. BEA
France was the 5th largest source of FDI in the U.S. as of 2022 which supported 741,200 jobs. $5.1 billion went to investing in research and development and another $27.3 billion went to expanding U.S. exports. The top industry sectors for French FDI in the US were: software and IT services, business services, industrial equipment, renewable energy chemicals, and communications. Select USA
In California, the third largest source of FDI through foreign-owned enterprises (FOEs) is France. In 2024, French FOEs provided over 95,000 jobs through 3,391 firms amounting to $14.61 billion in wages. The top jobs by sector are manufacturing, professional/business services, leisure/hospitality, retail trade, and transportation, warehousing & utilities (World Trade Center Los Angeles FDI Report).
Trade Agreements
Trade Agreements and Issues
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
France is one of the nation’s currently involved in negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the rest of the European Union and the United States. The United States and the European Union have a strong bilateral trade relationship totaling $698.7 billion in 2015. A free trade agreement, such as TTIP, aims to strengthen that relationship by eliminating tariffs, aligning compatible regulations to open trade, and furthering trade in the service sector.
Events
Events
CalChamber International Forum on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
On May 27, 2015, the California Chamber of Commerce held an International Forum on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Transpacific Partnership with speakers including members of the United States Chamber of Commerce, representatives from five American Chambers of Commerce from abroad, and two ambassadors. Also in attendance was a delegation totaling 25 members of the AmCham community representing Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Turkey.
French Ambassador Highlights Innovation, Entrepreneurship
(June 12, 2012) Economic relations between France and California were the subject of the day when the Ambassador of France called on the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento this week.
During his trip to Northern California, Ambassador François Delattre focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, visiting a business incubator and meeting with researchers and U.S. firms in Berkeley and the Bay Area.
Regarding the European Union, the Ambassador cited economic restraint, promoting growth, and improved governance as key priorities for the near future. The United States exported $27.8 billion to France in 2011, while importing $40 billion. California exports to France totaled $2.3 billion in 2011,while imports amounted to $2.5 billion.
Transportation equipment is a major import and export product. France is a major investor in California, with French companies supporting 60,000 jobs.
French Ambassador Highlights History of Shared Concerns with U.S.
California Chamber President Allan Zaremberg (left) and His Excellency Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador of France to the United States, greet guests at the Chamber International Luncheon Forum this week featuring remarks by Levitte. The ambassador noted that California is the state with the most exports to France and called attention to the role of trade and economic ties in the evolution of the European Union and the longest peaceful era in the history of Europe. He also highlighted the long history of shared interests between France and the United States and applauded the role of U.S. veterans in the liberation of France at the close of World War II