大象传媒

President Obama is lobbying Congress hard to approve a 12-nation trade deal between the US and Asia. It would include countries like Chile, Vietnam and Japan.

Backers of the deal - the President among them - argue it would open significant new markets to US goods, by lowering tariffs and other trade barriers. Critics though say it would subject American workers to unfair competition, from countries with lower standards on both labour rights and the environment.

In an exclusive interview with our sister business programme Marketplace in the United States, the President has revealed that China has been making approaches to join the deal.

But first, our presenter Mike Johnson asked Marketplace's host Kai Ryssdal how the interview came about.

(Picture: President Obama talks with Kai Ryssdal. Credit: www.marketplace.org)