The French trade, which balance deficit reached 6.6 billion Euros in 2004, allows the country to be the fourth largest exporter of goods (principally equipment) and the second largest of services and agrifood (notably cereals and processed foods). France remains the principal European agricultural exporter.

In addition, France trade with its partners in the European Union represents 70% of its exchanges and 50% within the Euro Zone. Moreover, France is strengthening its comercial exchanges with areas that experience a high growth : China and the new european countries.

The need to import energy, which had for so long weighed heavily on the balance of trade, has considerably diminished thanks to nuclear production of electricity. As a result, 50% of today’s energy requirements are met by domestic sources. Our main electricity production come from nuclear (78%) and hydraulic (12%).