WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he wants to iron out remaining issues with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on a stalled free trade pact and that the agreement could benefit U.S. exporters.
"We're going to be discussing this with South Korea. I want to get the deal done," Obama said in an interview with Fox News during a nine-day trip to Asia.
Obama was due to hold meetings with South Korean officials on Thursday.
Asked if he thought passage of the trade agreement could be completed next year, Obama said: "The question is whether we can get it done in the beginning of 2010, whether we can get it done at the end of 2010. There's still some details that need to be worked out."
A partial transcript of the interview was released to Reuters. The interview will be broadcast later on Wednesday on Fox News Channel's "Special Report with Bret Baier." (Reporting by Caren Bohan and Jeff Mason; Editing by Will Dunham)