RPT-Obama, China's Hu discussed U.S. tire decision

NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao on Tuesday discussed their differences over a U.S. decision this month to slap trade sanctions on Chinese tires, a U.S. official said.

The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said that Obama told Hu that despite that decision, the United States remains committed to free trade.

Both Obama and Hu are due to attend a summit of the Group of 20 nations in Pittsburgh later this week amid fears the tire issue could overshadow their bilateral relationship.

(Reporting by Caren Bohan; editing by Andrew Quinn)