Reuters reports that French customs data showed that French exports to Britain picked up 4% in February but were still at only 84% of the monthly average of the second half of 2020, as post-Brexit trade rules continued to impact commercial flows.

France is one of Britain's most important trading partners within the European Union and many economists forecast that Britain's exit from the world's largest free trade area will prove to be a long-term drag on its growth.

French imports from Britain jumped 27% to 1.48 billion euros in February, returning to a level just shy of the monthly average during the second half of 2020.

Overall, France's trade deficit widened to a seasonally adjusted 5.25 billion euros from 4.19 billion euros in January, led by a fall in the exports of aircraft, pharmaceuticals and manufactured goods.