Washington, Oct. 4 (Jiji Press)–Former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler said Tuesday she is hopeful that the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact can win U.S. Congressional approval by year-end.

“I continue to remain hopeful that a way can be found to obtain Congressional approval before the end of the year,” Cutler, who led U.S. negotiations on TPP issues with Japan, said in an interview with Jiji Press.

“I think it will be difficult, but I think there is a window open,” she said.

The United States, Japan and 10 other Pacific-rim countries reached a broad agreement on the TPP in October 2015, and signed the pact in February this year.

U.S. President Barack Obama is eager to win Congressional approval before his term ends in January 2017.