"It s kind of make or break if it doesn t happen in the next few weeks. If we don t have something substantial by the end of October, early November, it means that we need to wait for the next wave of discussion. I think it s gone for a while because the election period is never good for any FTA," said Jean-Etienne Gourgues, the chairman and chief executive of Chivas Brothers, which sells Royal Salute, Glenlivet and Ballantine s.