EU, the United States have agreed to push for trans-Atlantic trade deal

The Associated Press

BRUSSELS - The European Union and the United States have agreed to pursue talks for a trans-Atlantic free trade deal.

The 27-country EU said Wednesday that such an agreement would be the biggest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated and hoped it could add 0.5 per cent to the EU's economic output.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said that initial talks could start by summer.

"It will not be easy," EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said, but added the result would be "win-win" situation.