Washington: United States President Barack Obama welcomed a deal sealed on Monday to create the world’s largest free trade area, saying that it ‘reflects America’s values’ and ‘puts American workers first.’

Obama said that the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, which encompasses 40% of the global economy, would allow the United States to ‘export more products stamped Made in America all over the world.’ The deal marks a major policy triumph for Obama, who has made the issue a priority of his second term.