Doubts rise over TTIP as France threatens to block EU-US dea

Earlier, France's lead trade negotiator had warned that a halt in TTIP talks "is the most probable option". Matthias Fekl, the minister responsible for representing France in TTIP talks, blamed Washington for the impasse. He said Europe had offered a lot but had received little in return. He added: "There cannot be an agreement without France and much less against France."

All 28 EU member states and the European parliament will have to ratify TTIP before it comes into force. But that day seems further away than ever, with talks bogged down after 13 rounds of negotiations spread over nearly three years.