|
The
EU and the US are officially aiming to sign the deal before U.S.
President Barack Obama leaves office in January, but there are
now major doubts about it.
Merkel's deputy, Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel - a member of
the Social Democrats, junior coalition partner in Germany's
ruling coalition - unleashed a firestorm last month when he said
the free trade talks are "de facto dead". France and Belgium
have cast doubt on the prospect of the new trade deal and
scepticism is growing among Americans.
"I advocate negotiations continuing now," Merkel told the Funke
Mediengruppe, a German newspaper chain.
She said that many EU member states were suffering from high
unemployment, adding: "That's why we should support everything
that can create jobs and that includes the free trade deal."
Merkel said she had told U.S. President Barack Obama that during
the G20 summit held in China earlier this week.
Asked if the deal still had a chance of coming to pass, Merkel
said: "That now depends on the further negotiating process."
(Reporting by Michelle Martin; editing by Ralph Boulton)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
