EU insists 'ball still rolling' on US free trade deal

Brussels

THE European Commission on Monday insisted that talks on a huge US free trade deal were on track, rejecting German claims that irreconcilable differences had left the deal dead in the water.

"The ball is rolling right now. The Commission is making steady progress," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said when asked about comments by German Vice-chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel that the talks had "failed".