Ja: French trade

Interest in French products and services has continued to grow and France has become one of Jamaica's important suppliers in certain categories such as aircraft, automobiles, wines and spirits, cosmetics and perfumes, industrial equipment and electronic material, said Karlene Lemaire, assistant to the French Trade Commissioner.

The role of the Trade Commission is to promote business and commercial activities between France and Jamaica by acting as facilitator in setting up the necessary links between the buyers and suppliers of both countries, she said.

France exported US$90 million worth of goods and services to Jamaica while importing US$66 million worth of goods from the island in 2003.

One can only hope that Jamaicans don't learn to surrender with French ease. Who knows, maybe those tough rude bwoys in Jamaica might put some spine in the French. Jamaica ought to watch that $24M trade imbalance that favors the French. Most of the French imports was bauxite related.