United States

Political relations

The United States is one of France’s major allies and our cooperation is particularly strong in efforts to counter terrorism. France is a leading contributor to the Global Coalition against Daesh and the United States provides significant support to Operation Barkhane in the Sahel region, estimated at €35 million a year. The quality of the French armed forces is recognized by the Trump Administration, which appreciates their involvement in several foreign theatres. French-American relations enable quality dialogue on issues where consensus is sometimes lacking, such as when it comes to tackling climate change.

Large-scale ceremonies to commemorate the long-standing alliance of our two countries were held in recent years, with the commemoration on 14 July 2017 of the centenary of the United States’ entry into World War One, with Donald Trump in attendance. On 11 November 2018, President Trump visited Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the World War One. President Trump visited France for a third time for the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on 6 June 2019. A large delegation from Congress was also present on this occasion.

From 23 to 25 April 2018, the President of the French Republic made his first State visit to the United States since the election of Donald Trump. That invitation reflected the depth of the historical ties between the two countries as friends and allies.

France enjoys a positive image in the United States. According to a survey conducted in February 2018, France ranked fourth among countries with a positive image in the United States, with 84% positive opinions.

At parliamentary level, a friendship group – the French Caucus, created in the U.S. Congress in 2003 and made up of around one hundred members – is a key instrument of France-USA relations. Similarly, there are France-US friendship groups in the French National Assembly and Senate.

As of 31 December 2017, 163,699 French nationals were registered in France’s 10 Consulates General in the USA (the total French community in the USA is estimated at more than 300,000).

Economic relations

Given the special political ties between the two countries, France and the United States have very strong and mutually beneficial economic relations. Trade and investment support growth, employment and innovation in the two countries. Trade of goods and services between our two countries total approximately $139 billion per year (Eurostat). The transport equipment industry accounts for nearly half this trade. French exports of goods stood at €32.6 billion in 2016 and rose 4% in 2017 to reach €37 billion. The main areas of export are aeronautics, luxury goods (textiles, perfume, wine and spirits), chemicals and agrifood (French Customs). Research and development is one of the leading investment sectors. In 2017, a quarter of the new R&D projects in France were funded by the United States (source: Business France). US companies invest $2 billion in R&D every year. French business also invest $5 billion in US R&D per year or 10% of foreign R&D investment in the United States (source: BEA). This economic trade has been developed further with a partnership in the area of innovation.

France’s attractiveness to American companies has increased considerably. According to the American Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 barometer report, more than 75% of American investors have a very positive outlook for France’s economic future and more than 50% of American investors are considering employing more people in France in the next two to three years (versus 21% in 2016). Some 21% of American investors interviewed said that they recommended France as a place to invest (only 3% did in 2016).

In 2016, some 600,000 French people visited the United States and 4,200,000 American tourists visited France.