International trade compliance

International Conventions

Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Party to the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls For Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies
Party to the International Coffee Agreement

International Economic Cooperation

France is a member of the following international economic organisations: ICC, European Union, WTO, European Economic Area, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IMF, OECD, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates France click here. International organisation membership of France is also outlined here.

Party of the ATA Convention on Temporary Admissions and Use of the Carnets

Yes

As a Reminder, the ATA is a System Allowing the Free Movement of Goods Across Frontiers and Their Temporary Admission Into a Customs Territory With Relief From Duties and Taxes. The Goods Are Covered By a Single Document Known as the ATA Carnet That is Secured By an International Guarantee System.

Party of the TIR Convention

Yes

As a Reminder, the TIR Convention and its Transit Regime Contribute to the Facilitation of International Transport, Especially International Road Transport, Not Only in Europe and the Middle East, But Also in Other Parts of the World, Such as Africa and Latin America.

Accompanying Documents For Imports

Within the European Union, goods originating in the EU community can move freely and are exempt from customs formalities.

The documents which have to accompany the goods when they are delivered inside the EU community are the following:
-Bill of lading or airway bill
-Certificate of origin
- Commercial invoice
- Declaration of an antique

For a transaction outside the EU community, you have to add:
- Import licenses
- Certifications
- Single Administrative Document (SAD)
- Health certificate

To go further, check out our service Shipping Documents.

Free-trade zones

France counts with one free-trade zone, located in the port of Bordeaux.

For Further Information

French Customs website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery

Non Tariff Barriers

At the European level, agricultural products are protected within the Common Agricultural Policy and textile products from China, Belarus, North Korea, Montenegro, Kosovo and Uzbekistan are subject to particular formalities and import licenses or control procedures (export document, monitoring document).
At the national level, trade in plants and seeds, aircraft and other goods has to be declared; they have to be certified respectively by the GNIS (the national interprofessional organization for seeds and plants), the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Agriculture. Among the non-tariff barriers are France's regulations and bureaucratic procedures, its complex safety standards and its testing and certification requirements.

Sectors or Products For Which Commercial Disagreements Have Been Registered With the WTO

Agricultural products: cereals, bananas, poultry, appellations of geographical origin, garlic, salmon, sardines, sugar, wine, corn, coffee, melted cheese, rice.
Computer material, films and television programs, merchant vessels, civil aircraft, steel and cotton.

Assessment of Commercial Policy

The WTO pages devoted to France
Barriers to exchanges, inventoried by the United States