The United States’ top trade negotiator says that the administration of President Barack Obama is pushing to have Congress approve the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) before July first.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk made the comment Thursday in a seminar organized by the Washington-based policy group Third Way, noting that a trade deal between South Korea and the European Union takes effect in July.

Kirk said that the action taken by his agency in terms of finalizing the text of the pact with South Korea is being done with that July first goal in mind.

President Barack Obama is expected to unveil his plans for pending trade agreements within the next two weeks and is also expected to address the trade pact with South Korea and urge for its swift ratification in his annual State of the Union address on January 25th.