Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has expressed hope that the India-US trade agreement will be concluded at the earliest, saying it would serve the interests of global trade and strengthen economic ties between the two countries. She was speaking during an interaction with the Atlantic Council on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ms Sitharaman said negotiations were underway and noted that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had stated that the first phase of the trade pact had been finalised and was undergoing legal drafting.

The Finance Minister said both countries should work towards an early conclusion of the agreement in the interest of bilateral trade and the global trading environment. Her remarks come as the two sides continue efforts to advance the trade pact.