French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday called for a quick conclusion of negotiations on a free-trade deal between the European Union (EU) and the United States. "As soon as principles have been set, as soon as mandates have been given, speed is not a problem, it's of the essence," Hollande said at a joint news conference with President Barack Obama at the White House. "We have everything to gain from going quickly. Otherwise, we know there would be a pileup of fears, of threats, of anxiety. So, if we are in good faith, if we are all respectful of the other party's position, if we are attached to growth, we can move quickly," Hollande told reporters. Obama also expressed enthusiasm for the proposed free-trade agreement. "We've agreed to continue pursuing an ambitious and comprehensive Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership," he said. "We need to get this done because an agreement could increase exports by tens of billions of dollars, support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs both in the United States and the European Union, and promote growth on both sides of the Atlantic," the U.S. president said.
