Gabriel heads the Social Democratic Party, which is Merkel's junior coalition partner, making him both vice chancellor and a political rival.

Gabriel said he was a supporter of free trade because German exporters, large and small, would benefit but such a deal could not be done "at any price".

"Brexit is bad but it won't hurt us as much economically as some fear - it's more of a psychological problem and it's a huge problem politically", he remarked.

But the negotiations have been moving at glacial pace. While Merkel and President Barack Obama have pushed for a deal this year, Gabriel has previously suggested the talks would fail unless the US makes concessions to European Union negotiators.

The June decision by British voters to leave the European Union at a date yet to be determined is another potential complication, though Schinas said Monday the EU's TTIP negotiators continue to deal with the Americans on behalf of all 28 member nations of the bloc.

"Talks are now indeed entering a crucial stage but. provided the conditions are right, the commission stands ready to close this deal by the end of the year", Schinas told a regular press briefing. He said Europe "must not succumb to American demands". The European Commission says it would be worth 545 euros ($620) to each European citizen every year.

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But more than 3.2 million people have signed a petition to stop TTIP and another European Union trade deal with Canada. WikiLeaks has offered 100,000 euros ($114,000) for the documents.

German business groups and Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman rejected her deputy's assertion that U.S.

France has said it rejects the plan as it now stands because it is too friendly to USA business.

Neither the European Commission nor the U.S. Trade Representative's office had any immediate response to the comments.

"It will protect jobs, it will protect their regulatory rights, protect their abilities with respect to labour and the environment", he said.

The European Commission on Monday insisted talks on a huge U.S. free trade agreement were on track, rejecting German claims that irreconcilable differences had left the deal dead in the water.