(Updates with quotes, details)
NEW YORK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday President George W. Bush did not link support for economic stimulus measures or further aid for U.S. automakers to congressional passage of free-trade pacts in a meeting with President-elect Barack Obama.
"The president did not suggest a quid-pro-quo," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.
However, she said Bush did speak to Obama about the merits of free trade during their meeting at the White House on Monday.
"They did speak about a range of issues both domestic and international and they did spend some time talking about the economy," Perino said.
"But in no way did President Bush suggest that there was a quid-pro-quo when it came to the Colombia free trade agreement or the other free trade agreements."
The New York Times, citing people familiar with the discussion, reported that Bush indicated he might support further aid to struggling automakers and a broader economic stimulus package if Democrats in Congress dropped opposition to a free-trade pact with Colombia. (Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Chris Wilson)