A country’s trade balance is the difference between the value of its exports and imports of goods. A negative balance results in a trade deficit, meaning that imports exceed exports, while a positive balance results in a trade surplus, meaning that exports exceed imports. In France, the trade balance reached -€47.5 billion in 2015 despite a rebound in exports compared to 2014 (+4.3%). The average trade balance over five years (between 2010 and 2014) by country shows France’s position vis-à-vis its trading partners, according to UNCTAD data. France exports on average more goods than it imports in 153 countries (e.g., the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Brazil); However, 63 countries export more products to France than they import (e.g., China, the United States, and our neighbors in the euro zone). Africa and Oceania are the only two regions with which France has a positive trade balance on average.
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