Top business executives in the United States have been urging Congress to give President of the United States Barack Obama authority to negotiate international trade deals. As per the business executives, trade could increase employment in the country and competitiveness for their companies in other countries.

On Tuesday, the lobbying group Business Roundtable released a report where top CEOs of the country said that their expectations for the country's economy have improved, but the businesses still needs confidence to increase hiring and that would come with trade.

Business Roundtable had surveyed about 120 executives of the country and found that more than 50% CEOs said that trade will allow them to encourage their employment in the country. This year, a 12-nation trade deal with Pacific Rim countries is among the top priorities of President Obama.

Currently, Republicans have been controlling the Congress and support broadening trade. The President has been facing resistance from some of the Democrats who think that such kinds of agreement could be a disadvantage for the country. Obama has been looking for power to negotiate deals and only Congress can approve or reject it.

The lobbying group could play a major role in business and economic policy of the country, and pressing the Congress could be helpful in trade deals. In a conference call, Randall Stephenson, Business Roundtable Chairman, said that the group urges Congress to grant Obama the authority in the first half of the year. Stephenson is also chairman and CEO of AT&T. According to Stephenson, delay in giving authority to the President could run the risk of getting overtaken by next year's politics.

Stephenson said, "In addition to giving Obama expanded authority to negotiate trade deals, Congress should also overhaul the business tax system, a much more challenging political task than trade".