Negotiators from the US and the EU are in talks to finalise the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) which would create the world's largest free trade area. But the European Commission on Monday insisted talks on a huge US free trade deal were on track. Activists who have opposed TTIP since negotiations began in 2013 say the deal would only benefit multinationals and harm consumers. France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said it would be "impossible" for the two sides to conclude negotiations on a trade deal by the end of 2016. In the interview Sunday, Gabriel was more upbeat about a Canada-EU free trade agreement, which he called "a big step forward", adding he would fight for its ratification.

Source: The Local August 28, 2016 13:07 UTC