France names Pellerin to crucial trade post

France named dynamic former junior minister Fleur Pellerin to its topforeign trade post on Wednesday as it continues efforts to cut its huge trade deficit.Pellerin, the 40-year-old formerly responsible for the digital economy andinnovation, was named state secretary for foreign trade, tourism and French citizensabroad in a new government whose ministers were named last week.New Prime Minister Manuel Valls took charge of the cabinet after a reshuffleprompted by the ruling Socialists' dismal showing in local elections.President Francois Hollande's government has become deeply unpopular as itstruggles to revive France's stagnant economy and stem rising unemployment.Pellerin was widely praised for her work on the digital economy, with many in theindustry campaigning for her to keep her former post and lamenting her departure.Franco-Canadian lawmaker Axelle Lemaire, 39, takes over the digital economyportfolio.Born in Korea and adopted by French parents at the age of six months, Pellerin hasalso become something of a celebrity in parts of Asia.The Valls government named 14 new state secretaries on Wednesday as part of thereshuffle.Among the others named was former Socialist Party chief Harlem Desir, who takes over European affairs.