Asked by the conservative daily Figaro if the 2012 trade deficit would be smaller than the record in 2011 of more than 73 billion euros ($98 billion), Bricq replied simply: "Yes!"

She added that "in 2012, our exports were underpinned mainly by agrofood, aeronautics, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods."

Like neighbouring Germany, France would have to look beyond the eurozone for growth prospects, even though the 17-nation bloc currently represents 60 percent of all France's foreign trade.

While acknowledging that the rise of the euro against the dollar and yen could represent a handicap for French exporters, Bricq said: "We must not let that be the tree that hides the forest. Before anything else we need to resolve our problems of competitivity."