Europe

France
Last reviewed: 10 July 2009

Country information

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TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Trade and investment with the UK

France and the UK are major economic and trade partners. France is the UK's third largest export market behind the US and Germany and the UK's third largest supplier. Exports to France amount to some £20 billion per year and account for nearly 10 per cent of UK visible exports worldwide.

The UK's export performance increased in various sectors such as machinery (gas turbines), pharmaceuticals, aerospace, medical instruments, iron and other heavy metals, seafood and beverages. The UK's largest trade surpluses with France are in the energy, machinery and pharmaceutical sectors.

Around 2,000 UK companies are operating in France through subsidiaries, Joint ventures or partnerships including HSBC, Barclays, Kingfisher and Unilever.

France is the second European country source of new investments. In 2007/08, 88 French companies invested in the UK creating 3,339 new jobs.

Over 2,000 French firms, subsidiaries and branches are established in the UK employing approximately 330,000 people. French investments are notable in the service sector such as banking, telecommunications, electricity, hotels, restaurants and transport. Large French investors are EDF, AXA, L'Oréal, BNP, Vinci and Veolia.