President Obama has a tough job ahead to put to rest scepticism about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement before a new President is sworn in.

Prime Minister John Key has delivered a strong message to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York urging the US not to lose sight of the benefits of the trade deal.

But Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Edward Alden, said arguments are being made both in the public and political spheres, that free trade deals cause job losses and wage pressures.

He told Rachel Smalley President Obama is doing his best to make a case for the deal.

"[To] reassure America's allies in Asia that the United States is there for the long-haul, so all of these arguments are being made, but as I say they're up against these domestic political head winds in which a lot of Americans believe that trade has not been good for their bottom line."

Edward Alden said that President Obama is singing from the same song-sheet as John Key, warning that China may step in if they don't ratify the deal during the lame duck period.

"He said 'look, there's a competition in the world to write the rules for trade agreements, and either we the United States can lead in that or China's going to lead in that' - that's the argument he's been pushing."

Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have asked President Obama not to push the deal through Congress.

LISTEN ABOVE: Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Edward Alden, speaks with Rachel Smalley