Obama says confident TPP will be ratified before he ends term

US President Barack Obama delivers remarks after meeting with the Philippines' President Benigno Aquino alongside the APEC summit in Manila, Philippines, Nov 18, 2015. 

PHOTO: REUTERS

NOV 18, 201510:16 AM

[MANILA] President Barack Obama said on Wednesday all trade deals faced opposition and he was confident the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal will be ratified by the US Congress before he ends his term in November 2016.

Mr Obama was reacting to comments by some Republican lawmakers that the 12-nation Pacific Rim free-trade deal aimed at liberalising trade for 40 per cent of the world economy was unlikely to be voted on by the US Congress before he steps down from office.

"I'm confident we're going to get it done," Mr Obama told reporters in Manila on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Mr Obama will be meeting leaders of TPP countries in Manila later in the day.

REUTERS