France calls for 2-week delay in US-EU trade talks

[July 03, 2013]  PARIS (AP) -- The French government wants major trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union suspended for two weeks amid anger over alleged U.S. eavesdropping on European allies.

Government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem told reporters Wednesday "it seems wise to us to suspend them temporarily, for a period of 15 days." She says France will first "discuss with our European partners to take a joint decision."

She said mutual trust is needed before launching talks on such a huge trade deal, expected to provide a boost to economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

The first technical negotiations are scheduled to start Monday in Washington.

Some European countries have expressed anger at reports that the U.S. National Security Agency bugged the EU's diplomatic offices in Washington and infiltrated its computer network.

[Associated Press]

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