Ukraine crisis gives new impetus to EU-U.S. trade talks, U.S. says

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman takes part in an onstage interview with Edward Luce of the Financial Times during The Atlantic Economy Summit in Washington March 18, 2014. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Russia's annexation of Crimea underlines the need for the United States and the European Union to substantially deepen their economic ties, Washington's top trade official said on Saturday, opening the door to U.S. exports of natural gas to Europe.

Days before U.S. President Barack Obama and EU officials hold a summit in Brussels, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said the rationale "could never be stronger" for a U.S.-EU free-trade pact, despite growing public hostility to it.