French trade deficit swells to record highFebruary 7, 2012 - 16:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France suffered a record trade deficit of 69.59 billion euros ($91.4 billion) last year, up 33 percent from the 2010 deficit of 51.52 billion euros, the customs service reported on Tuesday, February 7, according to AFP. France's exports actually increased over the year, but the high prices of imported raw materials and fuel took their toll. In 2011, French exports grew by 8.6 percent to 428.8 billion euros, the rate of increase slowing after 14 percent growth in 2010. Imports were up 11.7 percent to 498.39 billion euros from 446.28 billion in 2010. "After a swift recovery in 2010, exports slowed in 2011, but they remain dynamic, and are now higher than before the financial crisis," the customs office said in its statement. Trade Minister Pierre Lellouche defended France's record, telling the daily Le Figaro that, while the deficit was higher than the previous record of 56.2 billion euros in 2008, it was "lower than had been anticipated." But French exports rose less quickly last year than those of Germany, Britain, Spain, Italy or the United States, and France's share in global trade has fallen sharply since 1990 from 6.2 percent to 3.6 percent. December offered a glimmer of hope. The trade account showed a slight improvement, with the gap falling to 4.99 billion euros, compared with 5.35 billion euros in the same month a year earlier. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. Civil disobedience campaigns continue in Yerevan People demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation again blocked streets in Yerevan on May 15. |