Industry struggles in face of currency growth

BRITAIN and France, the second and third-biggest European economies, racked up record trade deficits last year as an appreciation in the euro and the pound curbed export growth.

Britain’s annual gap reached £84.3 billion (€126.4m), the Office for National Statistics said in London.

France’s deficit widened to €29.2bn, the finance minister said in Paris. Ireland’s trade surplus for 2006 will be close to €28bn.