U.S. President Barack Obama says the pending free trade agreement with South Korea, once enacted, will create new jobs and opportunities for people in both countries.

Obama said Wednesday at the White House that he will submit the pending free trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia to Congress as soon as possible as a way of helping to create jobs and achieving Washington’s goal of doubling U.S. exports within five years.

He said that he has instructed U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to begin discussions to resolve outstanding issues with the pending Korean FTA before his visit to Seoul in November.