1.   The CFE treaty, which also permitted site inspections, had been preceded by a number of preliminary military inspections between member states of the two blocs.

2.   The French government had argued in favour of balanced trade between the two blocs but at the last minute accepted this wording.

3.   There were rather diverse trends in the three blocs.

4.   The two issued a joint statement calling for the continuation of negotiations between the two blocs.

5.   Talks between the two blocs are to begin in January, he said.

6.   That modest commitment fell far short of what advocates of stronger commercial ties between the two blocs had sought.

7.   Telecoms are likely to take center stage in the attempts by the EU and U.S. to reduce trade barriers between the two blocs.

8.   The accord includes a plan to launch a study into reducing or eliminating trade barriers which hinder business between the two blocs.

9.   The two blocs would together wield so much power that other parties would be forced to join one or be left out in the cold.