Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis has urged Congress to swiftly ratify the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

Marantis told a hearing of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade on Thursday that “now is the time to pass this agreement so American families can realize the many benefits of the U.S.-Korea trade agreement.”

Marantis said the trade office had heard of serious concerns surrounding the trade deal and took action to address those issues.

He said that Washington is still "committed to further opening beef markets across Asia, including South Korea, consistent with international science." He apparently made the statement to address complaints by some congressmen that a supplemental deal with South Korea reached last December failed to address wider access to the South Korean beef market.

Marantis said Congress should approve comprehensive trade policies, including free trade accords, as he noted that Washington also yielded progress in addressing contentious issues in its trade pacts with Colombia and Panama.