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International trade is one of the hot
industries of the new millennium. Trade exists because one group or
country has a supply of a commodity or some merchandise that is in
demand by another. As the world becomes more and more
technologically advanced, and as we shift in subtle and not so
subtle ways toward one-world modes of thought, international trade
becomes more and more rewarding both in terms of profit and personal
satisfaction.
France and the U.S. are long-standing, close
allies. Despite occasional differences of views, as evidenced in
early 2003 over Iraq, the U.S. and France work together on a broad
range of trade, security and geopolitical issues.
France is the world’s sixth largest economy.
With an annual GDP (USD 2.0 trillion in 2005) about one-fifth that
of the United States, France was ninth largest trading partner for
U.S., accounting for USD 46.7 billion of U.S. exports of goods,
services and income receipts in 2004, as reported in U.S. Department
of Commerce data. France is a member of the G-8, the European Union,
the World Trade Organization and the OECD, confirming its status as
a leading economic player in the world.
U.S. exports of goods to France in 2005 totaled
USD 22.4 billion, up 5.36 percent from 2004 and accounted for 2.48
percent of overall U.S. exports in 2005.
U.S. imports of goods from France in 2005
totaled USD 33.8 billion, up 7.09 percent from 2004 and accounted
for 2.03 percent of overall U.S. imports in 2005.
Import
Regulation
The importation of foodstuffs (produits
alimentaires) is fastidiously regulated by a number of government
institutions, most prominent of which is the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Meat falls under the domain of the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and products such as alcohol and
tobacco are controlled by the Alcohol and
Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau. For the entrepreneur who is
interested in exporting to the United States, he or she must be
fully aware of the rules of importation lest the products be seized
by the US government.
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The Mission Economique has
published a variety of documents explaining the precise regulations
imposed by government institutions:
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