Susan Schwab, US trade representative, on Wednesday welcomed the news that Germany was considering reviving plans for a transatlantic single market, saying these were unlikely to clash with attempts to relaunch the Doha round of multilateral trade talks.

While stressing that she had yet to see any details, Ms Schwab said in an interview with the Financial Times: “Initiatives that are likely to enhance global trade and contribute to more open trade - bilaterally, regionally or above all multilaterally - are positive developments. Contributions to more market liberalisation are always going to be positive.”