Obama: China 'putting out feelers' about joining Pacific trade pact

Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a town hall meeting with Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Fellows (YSEALI) at the White House in Washington June 1, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said in a radio interview on Wednesday that China was "putting out feelers" about participating in a Pacific Rim trade pact at some point. The White House wants to reach a trade deal with 12 Pacific Rim nations. "China is going to have to at least take those international norms into account" if its neighbors form a pact, Obama told the U.S.-based radio program Marketplace. A portion of the interview was posted online on Wednesday. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Susan Heavey)