France's Widening Trade Deficit Stokes Economic Worries

• France's trade deficit increased to €6 billion in February 2024, exacerbating economic struggles • France imported €56.3 billion of goods but only exported €50.3 billion worth • Bank of America warned of inevitable excessive deficit procedures for France due to fiscal issues • France recently disclosed a 2023 budget deficit of 5.6%, pushing debt-to-GDP ratios higher • Excessive deficit procedure requires countries to amend significant deficit and debt levels, necessitating stringent monitoring and budget corrections