A group of 88 U.S. congressmen has urged U.S. President Barack Obama to achieve more progrss in the ratification of the bilateral free trade agreement with Korea.

The bipartisan group including Democrat Adam Smith and Republican David Reichert sent a letter with the request to Obama ahead of his upcoming bilateral summit with Korean President Lee Myung-bak and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in mid-November.

The letter says the agreement will strengthen the bilateral strategic alliance, and warns that little progress in the ratification process could have an adverse effect on U.S. competitiveness and jobs.

This the first move of its kind by a group of U.S. congressmen urging the swift ratification of the accord.