Obama says important to conclude free trade deal with Europe, hints at possible gas exports
BRUSSELS – President Barack Obama says the European Union and the United States should push ahead with negotiations to create what would be the world’s largest free-trade zone.
Obama said Wednesday concluding the free trade deal would also facilitate exports of natural gas from the U.S. to the 28-nation EU.
The EU relies heavily on Russia for gas supplies but the crisis following Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula opened the prospect of Russia limiting gas shipments in retaliation against economic sanctions imposed by the West.
Obama said during a visit to the EU headquarters a free trade agreement would mean shipments of liquefied gas to Europe “would actually be much easier.”
The U.S. and the EU combined account for almost half of the world’s GDP and a third of world trade.
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.