Asian envoys urge Trump to reconsider on TPP trade pact

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S.-allied Asian ambassadors are urging President-elect Donald Trump to reconsider his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and keep the U.S. engaged in Asia.

Ambassadors from Australia, South Korean and Singapore made the appeal at a Washington think tank Tuesday.

The Obama administration championed the trade pact, which was signed by 12 nations in February but has run into a wall of congressional and public opposition.

Trump has vowed to withdraw from TPP on his first day in office, calling it a "disaster" for American jobs.

Australian Ambassador Joe Hockey said, "America has to engage with Asia if it is going to be great," because that's where most global economic growth is happening.

Singaporean Ambassador Ashok Mirpuri also said Southeast Asian nations want calm between the U.S. and China.