In 2023, the French trade deficit is expected to be around 100 billion euros, after a record of 164 billion in 2022. The energy crisis cannot be judged responsible for all of France's misfortunes.
The country's price competitiveness has deteriorated since 2019, in other words the cost of French exports is increasing faster than those of other European countries. The only solution to give French industry some breathing room in international competition would then be a new massive reduction in taxes on labor, capital, land and energy.