QUITO, Nov 30: Ecuador will aim to conclude a trade agreement with the EU by early 2014, President Rafael Correa has said, stressing it would not lead to an outright free trade pact.

“We will negotiate and seek to sign an accord with the European Union, but not at any price,” the socialist leader said in an interview on Friday with La Voz de Arenillas radio in Ecuador.

“We hope to reach an agreement by the beginning of next year,” he said, noting that his country had “red lines” on public spending.”—AFP