Macron wants EU-US trade deal 'as soon as possible'

France's President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he wanted an EU-US trade deal "as soon as possible, with the lowest tariffs possible", with a Washington-set deadline looming to reach an accord.

The EU commission, which leads trade policy for the 27-nation bloc, has until Wednesday next week to strike an agreement. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said earlier on Thursday that the European Union was "ready for a deal" with the United States.

Macron said he had hoped for a deal to include "zero for zero" percent tariffs, but what seemed more realistic was "to obtain what is today the minimum for the Americans" which was "10 percent for 10 percent" in custom fees. The French president said he hoped EU "defence efforts" encouraged by Washington, as well as plans to buy US "liquefied gas" to help reduce dependency on Russia, would weigh in the bloc's favour in talks.