An Israel Government mission is expected here shortly to open negotiations with the French Government for Israel’s first trade agreement with a major power, it was learned today.
At the present time Israel is proportionately France’s best customer, buying some 7,500,000,000 francs worth of goods annually. However, France only purchases 2.5 percent of this figure from Israel–last year’s purchases by France amounted to 178,000,000 francs, chiefly for textiles and citrus products. In addition, this total has been cut further this year by restrictive French trade practices.
As a result of the lopsided trade situation, Israel has this year been forced to cut its purchases from France. The trade mission will seek to simplify trade procedures between the two countries and encourage the normal flow of commerce. Under any circumstances a balance of trade could not be established between the two countries for some years.
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