The European Commission indicated yesterday that strong French objections could sink a proposal to negotiate an ambitious trade pact between the European Union and the United States.

Ms Martine Reicherts, chief spokeswoman for the EU's executive body, was responding to a fierce attack by the French President, Jacques Chirac, on a proposal by the European Trade Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan, for a New Transatlantic Marketplace (NTM).

"These types of operations can only work if they receive support from all the member states," Ms Reicherts told reporters, when asked whether French opposition at a ministerial meeting later this month could block the proposal.

"There is no question of doing it against the wishes of one (member state) or another," she said. Ms Reicherts also said if France objected, the NTM would not be discussed at next month's summit between EU leaders and US President Bill Clinton.