New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has told American businesses that a trans-Pacific trade deal will help the United States increase its exports to the region.
Mr Key made the comments in a speech to the US-New Zealand Council in Washington. There is opposition to the deal from the American farm lobby.
He said the US will benefit from being part of the eight-country trade pact.
Mr Key said America's share of exports to Asia has been falling because the US has been shut out of a range of trade deals which have been negotiated throughout the region.
He said the Trans-Pacific Partership gives the US the chance to reverse that trend and help boost its exports to Asia.
