Europe-African summit fails to reach trade deal

European and African leaders failed to make progress on a new trade agreement between their continents today, officials said, deepening tension at a summit already marred by disputes over Zimbabwe and Darfur.

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said most African leaders had rejected European Union proposals for a free trade deal, known as European Partnership Agreements, or EPAs. While the deals were not being hammered out at the summit in Portugal, the meeting had been seen as a chance to push for progress.