Ukraine crisis gives new impetus to EU-U.S. trade talks, U.S. says

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Russia's annexation of Crimea underlines the need for the United States and the European Union to substantially deepen their economic ties, Washington's top trade official said on Saturday, opening the door to U.S. exports of natural gas to Europe.

Days before U.S. President Barack Obama and EU officials hold a summit in Brussels, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said the rationale "could never be stronger" for a U.S.-EU free-trade pact, despite growing public hostility to it.

"Right now as we look around the world, there is a powerful reason for Europe and the United States to come together to demonstrate that they can take their relationship to a new level," Froman told reporters.

"Recent developments just underscore the importance of the transatlantic relationship. "From both a strategic and economic perspective, the rationale for the T-TIP could never be stronger," he said, referring to the proposed accord's official name, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/22/uk-ukraine-crisis-usa-trade-idUKBREA2L0AA20140322

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U.S.-EU free-trade pact ? Washington's top trade official can fuck off.