US congress 'poses problem for trade deal'

Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb says the United States congress could prove a big problem for the future of a trans-Pacific trade deal.

Trade Minister Andrew Robb warns a historic Pacific trade agreement could founder if the US congress doesn't deal with it within a couple of weeks.

Congress has stalled a fast-track power that would allow US President Barack Obama to wrap up negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, something Mr Robb believes will take just one more week of talks.

But Mr Robb told ABC radio on Wednesday if barriers congress had thrown up weren't dealt with in the next week or two, he believed there would be a real problem with the future of the 12-country trade deal.