【正确答案】France is UK's third largest customer in the world, accounting for around 10% of our total overseas trade, Recently, there has been a significant shift in the nature, of British trade with France, away from petroleum and related products and towards manufactured goods, with market share in the services sector also growing.
Invisibles and investment opportunities
There are now more than 2, 000 British companies with established subsidiaries or other forms of investment in France. With the advancement of the Channel Tunnel and the completion of the single market in view, the scope for further industrial and commercial collaboration is sure to increase.
The Presence in France of British banking interests, insurance companies, property developers and legal practitioners continues to grow. In the invisible sector as well as in industry and commerce, the trend is increasingly towards partnership arrangements with French companies.
The Department of Trade and Industry's French desk has a number of publications available to guide business on trading with France:
France—Country Profile
France— Hints to Exporters
France—Agency Legislation
France—Forming a Company
Further useful information available from DTI includes handouts of French regulatory matters, from rates of VAT (Value Added Tax) to permitted additives in various foodstuffs.
Consumer products
The French market for consumer goods is similar to that in the UK. Although methods of distribution and local tastes vary, with sound marketing practices almost anything can be sold. Demand for gardening and do-it-yourself equipment is expanding rapidly; good quality British food and drink products are increasingly popular; and classical British clothing and more recently contemporary British fashion design are much appreciated in the French marketplace. Another area where British goods are becoming popular is the giftware, chinaware, jewellery and gift stationery sector.
UK sports manufacturers should be aware that golf is now the fastest growing sport in France. The number of players is expected to double by 2002. However, competition is strong from the USA and Japan, and British manufacturers are advised to research the market carefully and develop distribution channels as soon as possible.
Relevant publications from the Department of Trade and Industry's French desk are:
Marketing Consumer Goods in France
Mail Order Houses in France
Market Reports and Summaries on:
giftware
do-it-yourself
tableware
business and promotional gifts
furniture
gardening equipment
domestic electrical appliances
sportsware