Nike promises 10,000 new jobs if U.S. approves trade deal

President Obama visited Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon on Friday to promote the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The athletic giant has promised to create 10,000 jobs if the U.S. approves the accord, for which Obama is seeking "fast track" authority.

The president noted that the agreement would help American workers stay on top worldwide. "If we don't write the rules for trade around the world, guess what? China will," Obama said, adding that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is "the highest-standard, most progressive trade deal in history," because it includes provisions on the environment and preventing child labor.

Though Nike is known to rely on low-paid workers in Asia, Nike CEO Mike Parker said the agreement will help foster bringing more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. "We believe agreements that encourage free and fair trade allow Nike to do what we do best — innovate, expand our businesses and drive economic growth," he said.

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Though some Democrats fear the deal would hurt American workers, Obama flatly refused that claim. "Some of my dearest friends are wrong," he said. "They're just wrong."