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Little hope TTIP will be signed by year-end: French president

Xinhua, August 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

European and U.S. negotiators are unlikely to reach "a positive conclusion" over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) by the end of this year, French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday.

"France cannot approve an accord without basis essential to reach a positive conclusion," Hollande said at a meeting with French ambassadors.

"The negotiations are bogged down, positions have not been respected, and there is a clear unbalance. It's better to acknowledge failure rather than continuing negotiations that won't come to an accord," he added.

The French leader underlined the importance of supporting free trade that respects the rules of reciprocity, transparency, environment and culture.

Earlier on Tuesday, French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl said France would ask to end TTIP negotiations during a meeting of European Union trade ministers in Bratislava scheduled for Sept. 23.

After three years of talks, negotiators from the EU and the United States have failed to bridge differences mainly on improving transparency, guaranteeing food safety and facilitating access of European small and medium-sized companies to U.S. markets. Enditem