In Bali for summitry, Obama announces trade deals

[November 17, 2011]  BALI, Indonesia (AP) -- The White House is announcing trade deals worth more than $25 billion with East Asian partners as President Barack Obama caps a burst of diplomacy to the region.

The new pacts include the sale of Boeing 737s and General Electric engines to Indonesia, Boeing 777s to Singapore and Sikorsky helicopters to Brunei. The White House estimated the moves would support 127,000 jobs, and timed the news to coincide with Obama's trip to Indonesia so he could point to progress on his American jobs mission while traveling to Asia.

Obama's nine-day trip has focused on both expanding economic ties with the soaring Asia-Pacific market and boosting the U.S. military posture in the region.

The president arrived in Bali on Thursday night after traveling from Australia.

[Associated Press; By ERICA WERNER]

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