Trading Partner Portal: France
California and France build on a decade of cooperation with new partnership to strengthen clean energy, protect communities, and grow economic opportunity
Governor of California, October 9, 2026
Trade Overview
According to the World Bank, France is a high-income developed country in Europe. It has a population of 68.72 million people with a corresponding GDP of $3.37 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 12th largest export destination of goods for the United States. In 2025, two-way goods trade between the two countries was $118.64 billion, with the United States exporting around $50.57 billion worth of products to France. The main exports were transportation equipment ($15.82 billion), oil and gas ($7.91 billion), chemicals ($5.53 billion), primary metals manufactures ($3.69 billion), and computer/electronic products ($3.36 billion).
The United States imported approximately $68.07 billion worth of goods in 2025, with chemicals as the top import into the U.S. from France, totaling $19.93 billion. This was followed by transportation equipment ($10.99 billion), goods returned ($4.70 billion), used or second-hand merchandise ($4.68 billion), and non-electrical machinery ($4.22 billion).
Services trade between France and the U.S. totaled just over $62 billion, with service exports from the United States to France at $29.52 billion. Top exports were other business services, travel, transport services, financial services, telecommunications, computer, & information services.
Imported services from France to the U.S. totaled $32.49 billion, with top imports being transport services, travel, other business services, financial services, and charges for intellectual property use.
France – California Trade
California is one of the top exporting states to France with a total of $299 billion worth of goods being exported to France in 2025. The main export categories included computer and electronic products ($598 million), chemicals ($470 million), transportation equipment ($460 million), fabricated metals manufactures ($249 million), and electrical equipment, appliances & components ($201 million).
California imported $3.91 billion worth of goods from France in this same year. California’s #1 import from France was beverages and tobacco products totaling $702 million in 2025. Other key imports were computer and electronic products ($614 million), transportation equipment ($365 million), goods returned ($297 million), and leather & allied products ($225 million). U.S. Department of Commerce
FDI – France
France and the United States also have a strong foreign direct investment (FDI) relationship. In 2025, the U.S. had approximately $124.84 billion dollars of FDI flow into France. On the other hand, France had a little over $408.57 billion worth of FDI in the United States. BEA
France was the 5th largest source of FDI in the U.S., which supported 753,300 jobs. $6.7 billion went to investing in research and development and another $19.9 billion went to expanding U.S. exports. The top industry sectors for French FDI in the US were: software and IT services, business services, energy, industrial equipment, electronic components, and chemicals. Select USA
In California, the fourth largest source of FDI through foreign-owned enterprises (FOEs) is France. In 2025, French FOEs provided over 94,654 jobs through 1,954 firms amounting to almost $8.98 billion in wages. The top jobs by sector are manufacturing, professional/business services, leisure/hospitality, retail trade, and wholesale trade (World Trade Center Los Angeles FDI Report).
More Articles:
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
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.
(April 29, 2005) 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
CalChamber Resources
- Consulate General in California
- French Embassy in the U.S.
- International Trade FAQs
- GO-Biz Stats: French FDI in CA
Business
- American Chamber of Commerce in France
- French American Chamber of Commerce
- Doing Business in France
- IBG Global – Lily Perf