United States and France
Security cooperation and business ties coexist with differences over strategic autonomy, trade and military decisions. Aerospace, medicines, investment and services form an extensive economic relationship. The 2021 AUKUS crisis and subsequent contacts show that an alliance can experience significant disagreements without disappearing.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07A relationship that does not exclude strategic disagreements
The French diplomatic profile recalls the alliance's long history and documents the crisis caused by AUKUS in 2021.
Aerospace and medicines in both directions
The French-language version of the profile reports 120,000 million dollars in goods and 62,000 million in services in 2025.
High-level contacts after the crisis
The French foreign ministry records Macron's state visit in 2022, Biden's visit in June 2024 and Macron's trip to Washington in February 2025.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 118,641.4 M USD | 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Goods: United States to France | 50,567.9 M USD | 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Goods: France to United States | 68,073.5 M USD | 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Services trade | ≈ 62,000 M USD | 2025 · France Foreign Affairs |
| Export share: United States to France | ||
| Export share: France to United States | ||
| Investment stock: United States in France | 124,836 M USDBEA est. | 2025 · BEA |
| Investment stock: France in United States | 278,908 M USDBEA est. | 2025 · BEA |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods for January–December 2025, millions of USD, U.S. reporter. Excludes services, affiliate sales and the addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: United States to France
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods for January–December 2025, millions of USD, U.S. reporter. Excludes services, affiliate sales and the addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: France to United States
- 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · Goods for January–December 2025, millions of USD, U.S. reporter. Excludes services, affiliate sales and the addition of mirror reports.
- Services trade
- 2025 · French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Rounded services total published in the French-language version of the official profile. USD is retained; the contradictory currency in its English translation is not used.
- Investment stock: United States in France
- 2025 · BEA · Direct investment position at historical cost; immediate counterpart. Not portfolio investment or announced commitments.
- Investment stock: France in United States
- 2025 · BEA · Direct investment position at historical cost; immediate counterpart. Not portfolio investment or announced commitments.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Year-on-year inflation: different periods or frequencies; the two figures are not directly comparable.
| Indicator | United States | France |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 30.77 trillion USD2025 · WB | 3.37 trillion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 90,026.52 USD2025 · WB | 48,985.73 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 2.16 %2025 · WB | 0.84 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 3.75–4 %2026-09-16 · Fed | 2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.7 %IMF est.Annual average · 2025 · IMF | 0.94 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.4 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · BLS | 3 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Sept. 2026 · Insee |
| Unemployment | 4.2 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 7.54 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -6.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -5.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 123.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 116 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -3.63 %2025 · WB | -0.27 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 341,784,8572025 · WB | 68,720,3372025 · WB |
| Area | 9,831,510 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 606,410 km²2023 · BM / FAO |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDUnited States: 2025 · World BankFrance: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited States: 2025 · World BankFrance: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United States: 2025 · World BankFrance: 2025 · World Bank
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)United States: 2026-09-16 · Federal funds target range · Federal ReserveFrance: 2026-09-16 · ECB deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United States: 2025 · Average annual change in headline CPI (%) · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · WEO estimate; not the year-on-year change for December or August 2026. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07France: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World Bank
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedUnited States: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Published: 2026-09-11 · Headline year-on-year CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted; not monthly or core inflation.France: 2026-09 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Insee · Published: 2026-09-30 · provisional · Provisional · National headline CPI, year-on-year, not monthly inflation or an annual average. Provisional data or an official advance release; subject to revision.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionUnited States: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.France: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)United States: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.France: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)United States: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.France: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPUnited States: 2025 · World BankFrance: 2025 · World Bank
- Population
- PeopleUnited States: 2025 · World BankFrance: 2025 · World Bank
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited States: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAOFrance: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAO
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
United States to France
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Aerospace | 15,800 M USD2025 · Source |
France to United States
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | United States to France | France to United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80,046.1 | 29,903.9 | 50,142.2 |
| 2022 | 103,525.6 | 46,296.2 | 57,229.4 |
| 2023 | 101,979.1 | 44,368.8 | 57,610.3 |
| 2024 | 103,436.9 | 43,655.5 | 59,781.4 |
| 2025 | 118,641.4 | 50,567.9 | 68,073.5 |
Connections between people
Studies, travel and affiliate activity sustain economic and civilian connections alongside cooperation between governments. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United States living in France | ||
| Residents from France living in United States | ||
| Study and training: United States in France | ||
| Study and training: France in United StatesStudy and OPT training in the United States | 8,698 | 2024/25 · Open Doors |
| Academic stays: United States in FranceU.S. study-abroad stays carrying academic credit | 16,740 | 2023/24 · Open Doors |
| Academic stays: France in United States | ||
| Travel: United States to France | ||
| Travel: France to United StatesResidence in France; international arrivals | 1,589,676arrivals | 2025 · NTTO / U.S. Department of Commerce |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
- Study and training: France in United States
- Open Doors: place of origin, enrolment and OPT training. Not visas issued or a count of residents. 2024/25 · Open Doors
- Academic stays: United States in France
- Open Doors: mobility carrying academic credit reported by U.S. institutions. A different academic year from the count of foreign students. 2023/24 · Open Doors
- Travel: France to United States
- International arrivals in the United States by country of residence; not unique visitors, nationality or emigration. Coverage and revisions of the NTTO series. 2025 · NTTO / U.S. Department of Commerce
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
A relationship that does not exclude strategic disagreements
The French diplomatic profile recalls the alliance's long history and documents the crisis caused by AUKUS in 2021. The agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States affected French industrial and strategic interests. The Rome meeting in October of that year forms part of the restoration of dialogue. This episode helps explain the difference between maintaining security cooperation and agreeing on every decision concerning partners, contracts or strategy. [2]
Aerospace and medicines in both directions
The French-language version of the profile reports 120,000 million dollars in goods and 62,000 million in services in 2025. It identifies aerospace and pharmaceuticals among the sectors traded: French exports of 11,700 and 11,500 million, respectively, and aerospace imports of 15,800 million. These are rounded, dated sectoral figures, not a complete ranking of all merchandise or turnover data for French businesses established in the United States. [1]
Established businesses, not just exporters
BEA makes it possible to observe the US position in France and the French position in the United States separately. The 2025 tables use historical cost and the immediate counterparty: they are not stock-market values, portfolio investment or promises announced by leaders. An affiliate can manufacture and sell within the host country without generating an equivalent bilateral export. The investment table therefore complements goods or services trade but is not added to it. [3] [4]
Education and professional activity
University relations and travel create a dimension distinct from presidential dialogue. The article includes the two available Open Doors measures: French students in the United States, including OPT training, and US study stays in France for academic credit. The academic years differ, and the second indicator is a mobility flow, not the number of US students enrolled on a particular date. NTTO arrivals add another perspective, by residence. [1]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
High-level contacts after the crisis
The French foreign ministry records Macron's state visit in 2022, Biden's visit in June 2024 and Macron's trip to Washington in February 2025. Its September 2026 update includes contacts related to the Évian G7. These meetings document continuity of dialogue; their dates do not automatically establish the resolution of trade disputes or fulfilment of every cooperation announcement. [2]
What recorded goods show
In 2025, recorded goods trade was 118,641.4 million USD. Shipments from the United States to France were 50,567.9 million USD, and those in the opposite direction were 68,073.5 million USD. A single reporter is used for both directions. The difference between those flows describes that source's goods balance, not the entire economic balance: services, affiliate activity and investment have independent measures. [5]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, currency, definition and source. Blank cells are not zero. Policy documents are distinguished from statistical results, and projects under way from announcements.
- Political and economic relations with the United States
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Document: 2026-08-17 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Political and economic relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Document: 2026-09-15 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- US direct investment positions
BEA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Direct investment positions in the United States
BEA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- TOTAL rows 2021–2025; goods; US reporter; million USD
U.S. Census Bureau · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07.