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EFTA

Switzerland govt submits EFTA-India trade agreement to Parliament
6-Sep-2024 Business Standard
The Swiss government has submitted a free trade agreement with India to its parliament for ratification. The agreement aims to increase trade and investment between the two regions. However, it has faced public opposition due to concerns about environmental impacts and the protection of domestic industries.
Commerce Ministry accelerates Thai-EFTA FTA talks: 10th round in Geneva
20-Aug-2024 Khaosod English
Thailand is negotiating a free trade deal with EFTA, aiming for completion by year’s end. This 10th round of talks focuses on expanding trade and investment, covering goods, services, and intellectual property. Despite past delays, both sides are determined to strengthen economic ties.
Europe and Asia: which countries Ukraine plans to conclude and update FTAs with this year
7-Aug-2024 Ukrinform
Ukraine is preparing to approve and update several free trade agreements (FTAs) with several European and Asian countries in the near future.
EFTA signs revised free trade agreement with Chile
25-Jun-2024 Swiss Info
The revised agreement with Chile was signed at a ministerial meeting of EFTA states (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway) in Geneva.
The India-EFTA deal: A model for developing countries
21-Jun-2024 South Centre
Governments are shifting from investor-state dispute mechanisms to treaties that encourage and ease investment.
UN criticises EFTA for jeopardising the right to food
7-Jun-2024 Swiss Right to Seed Coalition
The member countries of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are jeopardising the right to food through free trade agreements with countries of the Global South.
Department seeks to speed up free trade negotiations
10-May-2024 Bangkok Post
Thailand’s Department of Trade Negotiations is actively pursuing free trade agreements (FTAs). Trade negotiations with the Efta and the EU are continuing, while upgrades to existing FTAs in the Asean framework include China, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand to facilitate trade and investment for Thai businesses.
India’s newly amended patent rules threaten affordable medicines in the Global South
2-May-2024 Peoples Dispatch
It is no coincidence that just five days before the amendments were announced, India signed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association.
TEPA’s IP encroachment: A new barrier to indigenous innovation
16-Apr-2024 The Hindu
The new approach to intellectual property and investment through FTAs accepts an IP maximalist agenda of the United States Trade Representative; it threatens to upset the fine balance between public and private interests and push India away from essential innovations.
Switzerland seeks bilateral investment treaty with India
4-Apr-2024 The Times of India
Switzerland pursues a new bilateral investment treaty with India post EFTA deal, addressing model treaty concerns.India remains reluctant on concessions, focusing on market.
Implications for intellectual property rights following Switzerland and India’s new free trade agreement
27-Mar-2024 Lexology
The FTA contains various provisions on the protection of intellectual property rights that will influence trade between Swiss and Indian companies.
EFTA euro nations eye Mercosur deal before year-end
25-Mar-2024 Buenos Aires Times
Parliamentary representatives from European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) stop in Buenos Aires as part of regional tour focusing on efforts to secure free-trade deal with the Mercosur bloc.
Fish farmers up in arms at proposed FTA with EFTA members
19-Mar-2024 The Nation Thailand
Representatives of six fish farmer associations on Monday submitted a letter to Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin, urging the government to halt the negotiation of a free trade agreement (FTA) for imported fish that Thailand is planning with EFTA.
Update: Progress on 6 Thai FTAs now under negotiation
12-Mar-2024 The Nation
Thailand is negotiating 11 free trade agreements, including five related to upgrading existing FTAs along with developing six new FTAs as the kingdom aims to expand trade and investment with key trading partner countries near and distant.
Key details of India’s pact with four-nation European trade bloc
11-Mar-2024 Reuters
India and the members of the European Free Trade Association held 21 rounds of talks over 16 years to clinch the broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement.
Switzerland signs free trade deal with India
11-Mar-2024 Swiss Info
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, has inked a free trade agreement with India that is expected to be ratified in 2025.
EFTA trade deal to include investment commitment
8-Mar-2024 Financial Express
The EFTA that includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will be encouraging $ 50 billion of investments by their companies in India in the first 10 years of the FTA coming into force.
Thailand is nearing completion of a trade deal with non-EU countries
4-Mar-2024 Thailand Business News
Thailand is close to finalizing a free-trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein under the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) by the end of the year.
Swiss trade deal: Is India changing its tune on pharma patents?
27-Feb-2024 SWI
Intellectual property protection for the Swiss pharmaceutical industry has been a key sticking point in negotiations on a free trade agreement with India. Now there seems to be a breakthrough in talks after 16 years. What’s changed?
Thorny clause in ripening India-European Free Trade Association deal may hit generic drug industry
14-Feb-2024 The Hindu
The clause in the draft free trade agreement text could delay access to affordable, generic versions of patented drugs in India by a minimum of six years, according to documents.