PARIS, Oct 9: The Academic Francaise. charged with defending France's language and culture, joined with the country's filmmakers Friday In demand ing protection from free trade. But top corporations pushed for a trade accord, reports AP

The protests and declarations exemplified the pressures facing the French government as powerful constituencies clash over talks on lowering world trade barriers. French film and agriculture could suffer while telecommunications, aerospace and other sectors could benefit

In a communique Friday, the Academic Francaise said that a global trade accord under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, or GATT, would be "Inacccptablc if it didn't have a clause exempting culture.

"Culture should not be bargained for. Literary or artistic works... cannot be equated with raw materials or some kind of manufactured product." said the Academic, which includes leading writers, artists and scientists.

"As a result, the Academic asks that the government not give In to any concession.' it said.

Earlier Friday. French movie

industry figures said in an open letter to American directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese that they needed government support — thus exemption from a free-trade accord — to keep American film from destroying them.

We are not protectionist, we believe in freedom of expression as strongly as you do." said

France's Society of Writers. Directors and Producers In a letter published In Paris dailies. "We demand only one thing: to exist.”

The letter signed by actor Gerard Depardieu, directors Louis Malle and Claude Lelouch among others, answered a letter by Spielberg and Scorsese, who said they were "worried hearing

about quotas and restrictions.'

France and six other European countries, which subsidize homegrown films, are calling for the industry to be excluded from free trade rules. As it is. American films account for 60 per cent of France's box office revenue while French, productions earn one-half of one per cent in the United States.

Elsewhere in Paris, however, leaders of more than 90 of the world's biggest companies called on governments to wrap up the world trade talks "in the name of the ecology and the economy."

The World Business Council on the Environment, founded at the beginning of the year by the International Chamber of Commerce to help encourage Earth — friendly development, said the accord would stimulate the world economy.

"Growth Is essential for durable development that doesn't hurt the environment and de|>ends on free Investment and trade." It said in a communique.

Washington has rejected France - demands to renegotiate the accord to reduce the impact on Its farm industry.