German Chancellor Angela Merkel described a future trade agreement between the European Union and United States as being of existential importance.
"We have a mandate for talks with the United States and I think it is of existential importance," she told the BDI industry association.
The German Chancellor noted that she would keep trying to make progress despite the "regrettable" opposition from France.
"It is regrettable that France voted against this mandate but perhaps we have some work to do on convincing people," Reuters cited Merkel as saying.
The German Chancellor added she wanted to pursue talks to achieve sensible solutions that would avoid a difficult phase for the world economy.
