The US Trade Representative said Tuesday that it would be unfortunate if the furor over Washington\'s spying on  European leaders disrupts negotiations for a transatlantic free-trade zone. \"It would be unfortunate to let these issues -- however important -- distract us from our mutual goal of negotiating a high-quality 21st century agreement that increases bilateral trade and investment, supports jobs, and increases our international competitiveness,\" a spokesperson for the USTR said.