U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says the U.S. wants South Korea, Japan and Malaysia to join negotiations for a regional free-trade agreement in Asia.

Kirk made the statement Wednesday while speaking with the Washington International Trade Association about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact that U.S. President Barack Obama proposed during the APEC summit in Singapore last month.

Kirk said the Obama administration is working to address concerns over the U.S.-Korea trade agreement, particularly over U.S. autos and beef, as part of efforts to launch negotiations on the TPP deal.

Kirk added that the U.S. expects the TPP agreement to serve as a model for the future of American trade.

New Zealand, Chile, Brunei, Singapore, Peru, Vietnam and Australia have expressed wishes to join negotiations on the TPP pact.