U.S. President Barack Obama says he is working for the swift ratification of the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

Obama told a meeting of the President's Export Council at the White House on Thursday that the U.S. is working to resolve outstanding issues with pending FTAs with key partners like South Korea, and to seek congressional approval as soon as possible.

He added that the U.S. hopes to move forward on the trade agreements in a way that does not only advance the interests of U.S. businesses, workers and farmers, but also upholds the U.S.’s most cherished values.