Barack Obama is struggling to strike a deal with Congress over funding impasse- Photo: rte.ie

(VOVworld)- The 2nd round of negotiations on a free trade pact between the US and the EU have been postponed because of a partial government shutdown in America. US officials had been due in Brussels next Monday to discuss the deal aimed at boosting bilateral ties. On Friday, US trade representative Michael Froman informed the EU that financial and staffing constraints made it impossible to send a full negotiating team to Brussels . But he stressed that Washington would continue working with the EU on drawing up the deal, considering it a major economic advantage for the US and the world’s largest free trade pact. Reacting to the US announcement, European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the delay was unfortunate but emphasizing both sides’s overall aim of achieving an ambitious trade and investment deal.