Exports under free trade agreements are now growing faster than imports. Outbound shipments to FTA partner countries expanded by 23.9 percent to USD 57.2 billion. The trade deficit with FTA partners narrowed from USD 34.2 billion to USD 32.6 billion. Overall merchandise exports for the four-month period reached USD 173.8 billion. This indicates an improvement in the utilization of India's trade pacts.