The chances that U.S. negotiators can bring home a strong trade deal with Asia-Pacific countries are now much better than 50-50, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday.

Obama said he was also confident the administration could make a "strong case" in Congress for a Trans-Pacific Partnership deal covering nearly 40 percent of the world economy.

"I'm much more optimistic about us being able to close out an agreement with our TPP partners than I was last year," he said at a meeting of the President's Export Council.