9 October 2016, 16:31 GMT
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US President Barack Obama plans to seek support for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement at an upcoming economic summit in Peru, the White House announced in a press release on Tuesday.
"The President will meet with the Leaders of the other Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) member countries," the release stated. "He will emphasize our continued support for the agreement’s high, enforceable standards that will benefit American workers and businesses while furthering our national security imperatives in the Asia Pacific."
13 October 2016, 06:36 GMT
The annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum takes place in Peru November 18-20.
US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both oppose the TPP, which would join the United States with 11 other Pacific Rim nations.
Obama must either submit the deal to Congress during his remaining months in office or let the next US president decide when, or if, to send the package to Capitol Hill.
Congress must approve the TPP for the tariff-cutting plan to take effect.
