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Obama champions controversial North America-Asia trade deal Obama champions controversial North America-Asia trade deal
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has vowed to expand trade agreements between the Americas and Asia, despite concerns within his own political party.US President Barack Obama has vowed to expand trade agreements between the Americas and Asia, despite concerns within his own political party.
Ending a day of talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Mr Obama said the North American partners must keep up their "competitive advantage".Ending a day of talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Mr Obama said the North American partners must keep up their "competitive advantage".
The three countries are negotiating a Pacific trade deal. The three countries are negotiating a major Pacific trade deal.
But with November's midterm elections looming, Mr Obama's Democratic allies oppose such an agreement. But with November's midterm elections looming, Mr Obama's Democratic allies oppose the agreement.
The US president was in Toluca, Mexico, on Wednesday to discuss trade, immigration and energy issues with Canadian and Mexican leaders. The US president was in Toluca, Mexico, on Wednesday to discuss trade, immigration and energy issues with the Canadian and Mexican leaders.
'Successful conclusion' Jobs at risk?
Specifically, the leaders discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional pact among 12 nations that would be one of the world's biggest trade agreements. Specifically, they addressed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional pact among 12 nations that would be one of the world's biggest trade deals.
"We'll get this passed if it's a good agreement," Mr Obama said during an end-of-summit news conference with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper."We'll get this passed if it's a good agreement," Mr Obama said during an end-of-summit news conference with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The talks among the three nations, sometimes known as the Three Amigos, highlighted the changes to their economies in the two decades since a major trade agreement among them, Nafta, took effect. The talks between the three nations, sometimes known as the Three Amigos, highlighted the changes to their economies in the two decades since another major trade agreement among them, Nafta, took effect.
Mr Harper echoed Mr Obama's support for the TPP, saying he was "focused on bringing those negotiations to a successful conclusion".Mr Harper echoed Mr Obama's support for the TPP, saying he was "focused on bringing those negotiations to a successful conclusion".
But the US president's own Democratic congressional allies are blocking his attempts to expedite the trade agreement. But back in the US, the president's own Democratic congressional allies are blocking his attempts to expedite the trade agreement.
Their union supporters fear such a deal would leech away American jobs, while environmental groups say it would increase pollution.Their union supporters fear such a deal would leech away American jobs, while environmental groups say it would increase pollution.
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters earlier on Wednesday that the TPP "explicitly protects" American workers and the environment. At the news conference, Mr Obama also said immigration remained one of his "highest priorities".
"That's the conversation he has and others have with lawmakers of both parties." Mexican officials would like to see America's immigration laws overhauled, but US Republican leaders have said little progress is likely before November's elections.
Addressing Canadian-US discussions over the long-stalled Keystone XL oil pipeline, Mr Obama said he would continue to examine its potential environmental effect, despite Canada's call to approve the project.
"I said previously that how Keystone impacted greenhouse gas emissions would affect our decision, but frankly it has to affect all of our decisions at this stage," he said.
Mr Obama also addressed other international issues: