EU and US consider free trade pact

After years of battling each other on trade issues, US and European officials are contemplating joining forces in what could be the world’s largest free trade pact in an attempt to boost their struggling economies.

Discussions are in the most preliminary of stages and there would be major obstacles to overcome, such as sharp differences on agriculture, food safety, and climate change legislation. Still, top EU and US officials have said they want to see it happen.

And America’s main labour group, often the biggest opponent of US trade pacts, says it wouldn’t stand in the way.