(VOVworld) - The European Union will have to press ahead quickly to secure trade deals with other countries if it does not reach an agreement with US President Donald Trump’s new administration, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Source: EPA/VNA)

After her meeting with Uruguay's President Tabare Vazquez on Wednesday, Merkel he said the EU will work on the issue of free trade during Germany’s G20 presidency to see the priorities of the new US administration. She added that if the negotiations don’t make progress, or only slow progress, the EU will have to negotiate other agreements with countries like Japan, India, Australia, and Mercosur.

The EU and the US began negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) three years ago. It was supposed to create the biggest free trade market in the world with 850 million customers, but it sparked protests in Europe and was harshly criticized by Trump during his election campaign.