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EFTA

Vietnam, EFTA working on 18th FTA negotiation round in Da Nang
27-Nov-2025 Vietnam+
The 18th negotiation round of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is taking place in the central city of Da Nang from November 25 to 28, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
TEPA: A $100 billion carrot
24-Nov-2025 The Pioneer
A close reading of the India-EFTA trade deal’s investment chapter shows that the $100 billion investment commitment is largely symbolic, a political gesture designed to justify the market-access concessions India granted to EFTA’s exporters.
Thailand accelerates FTA talks with EFTA, EU and South Korea to cut reliance on US exports
24-Nov-2025 The Nation
Thailand is fast-tracking FTAs with EFTA, the EU and South Korea to reduce dependence on US exports after tariff hikes, aiming to expand new markets and boost GDP
EFTA seeks Bilateral Investment Treaty with India to support $100 billion investment commitment
2-Oct-2025 CNBC TV18
The European Free Trade Association has proposed a Bilateral Investment Treaty with India to encourage its member countries’ companies to fulfill their collective investment commitment of $100 billion over the next 15 years.
India-EFTA trade pact set to become operational on Oct 1
30-Sep-2025 IANS
The India-European Free Trade Association’s Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement will officially become operational on October 1, with the four-nation bloc comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Singapore inks pact with four European states to boost digital trade
29-Sep-2025 The Straits Times
A new agreement between Singapore and the European Free Trade Association is set to boost cross-border data flows for key sectors such as financial services.
Mercosur, EFTA sign FTA in Rio de Janeiro
17-Sep-2025 MercoPress
The Southern Common Market (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and the EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) signed a Free Trade Agreement, creating a zone of nearly 300 million people with a combined GDP of over US$4.3 trillion.
Mercosur-EFTA deal ready to be signed next week
15-Sep-2025 MercoPress
The comprehensive understanding covers various sectors, including trade in goods and services, intellectual property, government procurement, and sustainable development.
Switzerland eases norms to implement FTA with India
4-Sep-2025 Financial Express
Switzerland has eased rules to implement its FTA with India, effective October 1. The pact promises $100 bn EFTA investments, boosts market access for pharma, machinery, and agri goods, while keeping gold duties untouched to balance trade between the two partners.
India-EFTA free trade pact to roll out from Oct 1
24-Jul-2025 Hindustan Times
India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will officially implement their free trade pact, the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), starting October 1, 2025. TEPA offers India near-complete tariff concessions on exports to EFTA countries and opens market access for various goods and services. Sensitive sectors like dairy and certain agricultural products are excluded to protect domestic interests.
Singapore and EFTA conclude talks on digital economy agreement
11-Jul-2025 Singapore Business Review
The agreement will allow the free flow of data across each other’s territories.
EU’s neighbours strike Mercosur trade deal as Brussels awaits
4-Jul-2025 Euractiv
The European Free Trade Association has clinched a trade agreement with Mercosur, while the EU’s own trade agreement with Mercosur has been delayed.
Mercosur, EFTA blocs finalize free-trade agreement, say sources
2-Jul-2025 Reuters
South American bloc Mercosur has concluded talks for a free-trade agreement with a group of four European nations known as EFTA.
EFTA states and Malaysia sign economic partnership agreement with investment promotion chapter
1-Jul-2025 CMS Law-Now
The trade agreement includes an investment chapter aimed at promoting mutual foreign investment flows between the EFTA states and Malaysia
Malaysia too hasty in signing EFTA trade agreement
1-Jul-2025 Consumers’ Association of Penang
Consumers’ Association of Penang express strong disappointment over Malaysia’s rushed signing of a trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, criticizing the government’s failure to address concerns about the intellectual property (IP) provisions.
Remove TRIPS+ demands from the EFTA-Malaysia Free-Trade Agreement
25-Jun-2025 Alliance Sud
The undersigned Swiss NGOs are urging the Swiss government to actively engage within EFTA to drop these provisions known as TRIPS+.
Malaysia signs free trade pact with Norway, Iceland and other EFTA countries
25-Jun-2025 ScandAsia
Malaysia has signed a wide-ranging economic partnership agreement with the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Malaysia-European Free Trade Association partnership agreement could negatively impact many sectors, says CAP
16-Jun-2025 The Star
The proposed Malaysia-EFTA Economic Partnership Agreement (MEEPA) could negatively affect public health, farmers’ rights, and food security in Malaysia. It includes "TRIPS-plus" intellectual property provisions that extend patent monopolies, limit access to affordable generic medicines, and increase drug costs.
Malaysia-EFTA economic partnership agreement (MEEPA) would tie Malaysia’s hands on access to medicines
12-Jun-2025 Info Justice
Malaysian negotiators have accepted intellectual property protections above those required by the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which will adversely affect affordable and equitable access to medicines in Malaysia for generations.
Swiss firms keen to expand India presence as FTA implementation draws near
12-Jun-2025 Financial Express
Swiss firms eye India expansion as FTA with EFTA nears implementation. With $100B investment planned over 15 years, sectors like biotech, pharma, and engineering align with India’s growth goals, making it a key hub for global value chains and innovation.