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Strategic Lens

China and France

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 48.5 billion of goods to France and bought USD 36.2 billion from it. Both are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 52 percent in 2023, and 55 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 121 thousand people born in China lived in France, and 10 thousand people born in France lived in China.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 48.5 billion and France sold USD 36.2 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils grew 52 percent, from USD 331 million in 2019 to USD 501 million in 2025.
  • BothTrade in critical minerals and metals runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 17.1 million and France sold USD 19.1 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothThe two countries' customs reports differ on goods sold by China to France in 2025: China reports USD 48.5 billion and France reports USD 84.3 billion.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 454 million of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 47.6 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, France sold USD 3.06 billion of agricultural and food products, against USD 710 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 84.6 billion
2025, as reported by China
China to France
USD 48.5 billion
2025, as reported by China
France to China
USD 36.2 billion
2025, as reported by China

What connects China and France

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, China sold USD 48.5 billion of goods to France and bought USD 36.2 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, China sold USD 454 million of mineral fuels and oils to France and bought USD 47.6 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, China sold USD 17.1 million of critical minerals and metals to France and bought USD 19.1 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, China sold USD 710 million of agricultural and food products to France and bought USD 3.06 billion from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 25.2 million of fertilisers to France and bought USD 5.0 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, China sold USD 9.62 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to France and bought USD 7.79 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, China sold USD 10.3 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to France and bought USD 3.72 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 1.35 billion of pharmaceutical products to France and bought USD 2.55 billion from it.

Security

Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, China sold USD 8.8 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to France and bought USD 335 million from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 52 percent in 2023, and 55 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 121 thousand people born in China lived in France, and 10 thousand people born in France lived in China.

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