WASHINGTON (AP) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is urging representatives of top U.S. companies to push for quick ratification of a stalled U.S.-South Korean free trade deal.
Lee told a crowd of business leaders at a dinner Tuesday sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that "now is the time to step up" and ratify a deal that he says would boost trade dramatically and strengthen the countries' alliance.
After talks with President Barack Obama, Lee met with senior U.S. lawmakers Tuesday. Many of them are deeply skeptical of a deal they say could hurt an already suffering American auto industry.
Obama said earlier Tuesday that he wants to make sure differences over autos are settled before the deal is sent to Congress for ratification.