Minister of Commerce (France)

The Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade, Workmanship, Tourism, and Purchasing Power (in French: Ministère des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises, du Commerce, de l'Artisanat, du Tourisme et du Pouvoir d'achat) is a governmental department in France. It was established in 1812 under the name Ministère des Manufactures et du Commerce, and its designation has evolved over time in accordance with the political periods and governments in power. The current ministry oversees the portfolios of workmanship, trade, tourism, and support for purchasing power. It is a fully operational ministry within the second government of Sébastien Lecornu, with Serge Papin serving as the incumbent minister since 12 October 2025.

The position sometimes included responsibility for other government departments such as Public Works, Interior, Agriculture and Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones. Initially focused on encouraging industry and commerce, the ministry’s scope expanded in 1969 to include small and medium-sized industries as well as craftsmanship. Between 2000 and 2002, under the socialist Jospin government, it also incorporated the portfolio of Consumer Affairs. The ministry's remit further broadened to include liberal professions between 2002 and 2007, and again between 2010 and 2012. Under the presidency of Emmanuel Macron, it was incorporated into the Ministry of Economics, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. At that point, it became a fully-fledged ministry with the inclusion of the purchasing power portfolio.

The existence of a dedicated ministry to support craftsmanship and small and medium-sized enterprises is justified by the dominance of such enterprises in the French economy. According to statistics from the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, in 2022, France was home to 4.3 million microenterprises or very small businesses, as well as 172,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. In total, 2.3 million employees worked in microenterprises, and 4.5 million employees were employed in small and medium-sized enterprises.