The Treasurer’s Guide to Trade Finance

France

Principal exports

Machinery and transportation equipment,

aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical

products, iron and steel, and beverages.

Import/Export documentation

Within the EU: no documentation

requirements, but a commercial invoice is

typically included.

Outside the EU commercial invoice, customs

declaration, bill of lading, packing list and,

sometimes, a certificate of origin.

Licences

Imports

ƒ Import licences with quotas: items

from outside the EU that are subject to

quantitative restrictions; and items of a

strategic nature or national interest from

fellow EU member states.

ƒ Certain imports from outside the EU require

an administrative visa from the Central

Customs Administration or appropriate

ministry. These include imports from

non-ECSC (European Coal and Steel

Community) countries, which are listed

under the ECSC Treaty.

Exports

ƒ Goods/items that are subject to international

controls.

ƒ Certain prohibited exports are permitted

under a special licence.

Tariffs/Taxes

Imports

ƒ Tariffs on imports from outside the EU are

set according to the EU’s common customs

code, with higher rates for agricultural

imports.

Exports

ƒ Tariffs apply to works of art, antiques,

jewellery and precious metals.

Financing requirements for imports/

exports

ƒ None.

Prohibited items

ƒ Imports that are prohibited in accordance

with EU regulations and UN Security Council

resolutions, such as items deemed a threat

to fauna and flora and national security.

ƒ Exports that are prohibited in accordance

with EU regulations and UN Security Council

resolutions.

France imports exports

Trade information

Key trading partners

Imports by origin

Eu 58.9%

China 8.0%

USA 5.6%

Russian

Federation 2.8%

Switzerland 2.3%

Other 22.4%

Source: WTO, September 2012

Exports by destination

EU 60.9%

USA 5.6%

China 3.2%

Switzerland 3.1%

Russian

Federation 1.8%

Other 25.4%