France has declared that there is “no chance” of the EU-US trade deal being signed before President Obama leaves office, throwing the pact into serious doubt.

Matthias Fekl, a French trade minister, said that it is “impossible” for the vast deal to be concluded this year. Officials have previously warned that unless the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is signed under the Obama administration it will lose all momentum and may never happen.

Any faltering of the EU deal may increase the likelihood of Britain securing a bilateral trade deal. The United Kingdom was the strongest advocate for TTIP, but the Obama White House has said that Britain would be “back of the queue” for any trade deal because it is only interested in regional pacts.

“I think a deal in 2016 is impossible and everyone knows it, including those who say otherwise,” said Mr Fekl.

“We are waiting for so many serious offers from the United States that there is absolutely no chance of things happening before the end of the Obama administration.”

The deal has been opposed by those who argue the elimination of regulatory barriers would jeopardise European standards and leave public services at risk of privatisation.

Another deal between the EU and Canada - CETA - is also at risk of being torpedoed after President Juncker bowed to pressure and said it should be subject to ratification by national parliaments.