ISTANBUL 

Thailand’s commerce minister said Friday he had discussed a possible Thai-European Union free trade agreement with a top EU official.

Pichai Naripthaphan and Maros Sefcovic, the EU commissioner for trade and economic security, discussed the pact in a Monday video call, reported Thai website Khaosod English.

Pichai said he expects the outcome of the possible agreement to be clear by this December.

He also said that the EU and Bangkok agreed they are a “trusted and predictable” alliance.

The fifth round of the free trade talks is set for March 31 to May 4.