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Headed by the Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs in Washington , this office is tasked with surveying U.S. policies concerning industry and technology. The office is also responsible for bilateral and multilateral trade relations involving France and the United States. It represents French commercial interests in the United States and helps French companies (in the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors) promote their products on the American market. To this end, it provides basic information on U.S. regulations as well as the legal, financial and industrial aspects of doing business in the United States.

This office also maintains contact with the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the U.S. Trade Representative and other governmental or technical agencies. It also has close relations with American and French businesses in the United States and has established a network of Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur. These are members of the French business community who act as consultants, sharing their expertise with the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs. In addition, this office is responsible for programming and coordinating the activities of the other French Trade Commissions (located in New York, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Houston, and Atlanta). The French Trade Commission is an agency of the French Government in charge of the promotion of French products, services and investments. Located in major metropolitan areas, the offices are well positioned to provide relevant information to U.S. firms concerning potential partnership and investment opportunities with French firms.

These offices operate as a network with each office specializing in specific service or industry sectors. New York: consumer goods, food products, distribution and exportation; Chicago: crafts, equipment and supplies; Detroit: automobiles; San Francisco: information technology, audiovisual/multimedia, electronics and agricultural machinery; Houston: petroleum, energy, chemicals and the environment; Washington: agricultural commodities and trade, construction, pharmaceuticals, transportation and legal services; Atlanta: sporting goods, medical and surgical equipment and services .

Information on the import, distribution or representation of French goods and services in the United States can be obtained by contacting the relevant specialist trade office or visiting the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs' website ( www.dree.org/usa)./.