United States – Discussions between Franck Riester and the business community in the United States ( 22 Oct. 2020)

Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke with representatives of the French business community in the United States and the U.S. business world on October 22.

The minister presented the measures taken by France to address the health and economic crisis, notably the government’s €100 billion recovery plan and its export and economic attractiveness pillars. He spoke with American business leaders investing in France or planning to do so.

With respect to trade policy, the minister reaffirmed the importance of the trans-Atlantic partnership and the need to preserve its balanced and mutually beneficial nature.

Trade between France and the United States amounted to $150 billion in 2019, an increase of almost 17% compared to the previous year. Bilateral investment stocks amounted to almost $400 billion. The 4,800 subsidiaries of French firms established in the United States currently employ almost 735,000 people, making France the fourth largest foreign employer in the country, while almost 500,000 jobs have been created within 4,500 subsidiaries of American firms based in France.