Governments are expected to agree on an EU mandate to open negotiations on an ambitious bilateral trade deal with the United States at the next meeting of EU trade ministers.
The decision, which is expected on 14 June, would pave the way for the European Commission's trade team, led by Commissioner Karel de Gucht, to begin talks in July.
A diplomatic official involved in the negotiations described himself as "reasonably confident" that ministers would reach agreement.
Howev...
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Benjamin Fox is a seasoned reporter and editor, previously working for fellow Brussels publication Euractiv. His reporting has also been published in the Guardian, the East African, Euractiv, Private Eye and Africa Confidential, among others. He heads up the AU-EU section at EUobserver, based in Nairobi, Kenya.