DHAKA: US President Barack Obama has vowed to expand trade agreements between the Americas and Asia, despite concerns within his own political party.

Ending a day of talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Obama said the North American partners must keep up their "competitive advantage", reports BBC.

The three countries are negotiating a Pacific trade deal.

But with November`s midterm elections looming, Obama`s Democratic allies oppose such an agreement.

The US president was in Toluca, Mexico, on Wednesday to discuss trade, immigration and energy issues with Canadian and Mexican leaders.

`Successful conclusion`

Specifically, the leaders discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional pact among 12 nations that would be one of the world`s biggest trade agreements.

"We`ll get this passed if it`s a good agreement," Mr Obama said during an end-of-summit news conference with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The talks among the three nations, sometimes known as the Three Amigos, highlighted the changes to their economies in the two decades since a major trade agreement among them, Nafta, took effect.

Harper echoed Obama`s support for the TPP, saying he was "focused on bringing those negotiations to a successful conclusion".

But the US president`s own Democratic congressional allies are blocking his attempts to expedite the trade agreement.

Their union supporters fear such a deal would leech away American jobs, while environmental groups say it would increase pollution.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters earlier on Wednesday that the TPP "explicitly protects" American workers and the environment.

"That`s the conversation he has and others have with lawmakers of both parties."

BDST: 0915 HRS, FEB 20, 2014