A U.S. government trade official says President Barack Obama has given an order to resolve pending issues concerning free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Columbia.

Jim Sanford, who represents small businesses at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, made the remark during a Senate finance committee hearing. Sanford said the USTR is working on the pending concerns.

He said FTAs provide valuable export opportunities to not only small firms but to all fields of business. He said ratifying and implementing the agreements is the top priority of the Obama administration's policy measures for exports.

His remark is in line with Obama's call on Congress to work to endorse the trade deals to create jobs in the U.S. Obama indirectly made the call during his State of the Union speech last month.