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EFTA


Leuthard launches Efta deal in Indonesia
Swiss President Doris Leuthard and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have decided to begin negotiations over a comprehensive accord between Efta and Indonesia.
Egypt boosts Swiss trade relations as euro weakens
Egypt is looking to mitigate the negative short-term effects of the weakening euro by diversifying its trade partners and increasing volumes with members of the European Free Trade Association, the country’s trade minister said.
Vietnam, EFTA to study feasibility of free trade deal
The four members of the European Free Trade Association and Vietnam will start examining the possibility of establishing a free trade agreement, Switzerland said Tuesday.
Peru, EFTA to sign FTA in June
Peru will sign the final text of its free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association, consisting of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, in June.
HK, Europe to start trade talks
Hong Kong and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, are set to begin talks aimed at hammering out a free trade pact in early 2010.
Panama advances on free trade dialogue with European countries
Panama will negotiate a free trade agreement with members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Panaman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industries said on Sunday.
Peru signs agreement with European free trade pact nations
Peru formally concluded a joint free trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland on Friday, said trade and tourism minister Martin Perez.
Trade deficit surges 4-fold after FTA with EFTA nations
Korea’s trade deficit with a four-European nation economic block has surged by four-fold since the signing of a free trade agreement three years ago, with its imports growing at a much faster pace than exports.
Ukraine to sign bilateral agreement on free trade zone with European Free Trade Association
The deal with EFTA is likely to be signed by the end of this year. The free trade agreement with the EU could be concluded in 2010.
India talks FTA with Switzerland
Instead of stopping the West and multinational drugmakers in their efforts to block India’s low-cost generic drugs exports, the government is helping their cause by aggressively pursuing free trade agreements (FTAs) with developed economies — agreements that could further hamper the world’s access to such drugs.
GCC to sign EFTA trade deal
GCC Secretary-General Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah has announced that the Gulf Cooperation Council will sign a joint free trade agreement with the EFTA states, Switzerland Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein later this month. Both parties agreed the text of the agreement on April 24, 2008 and have now signalled they wish the agreement to enter into force.
Free trade agreement with Colombia under pressure
Citing “serious and systematic” human rights violations in Colombia, 33 non-governmental organizations led by Alliance Sud, the Berne Declaration and the Swiss Working Group on Colombia sent a letter 12 May to deputies urging them not to ratify the trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, and Colombia.
Norway withdraws from EFTA negotiations on IPR
Norway has resigned from the EFTA negotiations on intellectual property rights. The sole EFTA cooperation may now be in danger. “We have chosen to pull out of the negotiations. We have a different policy than the other EFTA countries in this area. This has not been problematic so far, but differences have crystallized during the negotiations with India”, says State Secretary Rikke Lind, Norway Ministry of Trade and Industry, to the New Time.
EFTA Free trade agreements: Norway asserts Human Rights, Switzerland supports companies
EFTA FTAs negotiations have taken a complicated turn, with Norway withdrawing from talks on intellectual property, which is a serious priority for Switzerland. In addition, Norway deferred the submission for ratification by the Norwegian Parliament of the FTA with Colombia, an act seen by many as a move on the part of the Norwegians to renegotiate many terms within the agreement.
Colombia Government Sends Canada, EFTA Free Trade Bills To Congress
The Colombian government sent key bills to Congress Wednesday, seeking its approval of free trade agreements with Canada and the European Free Trade Association, or EFTA, the Ministry of Commerce said.
Free trade deal should exclude shipbuilding, Stoffer says
Peter Stoffer hopes to turn the tide on a controversial free trade agreement that could sink shipbuilding in Canada.
Immediately halt EFTA negotiations - statement of concern from India
Trade unions, people’s movements and civil society organisations express opposition to the lack of transparency, public debate and democratic process surrounding the ongoing negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association, composed of Lichtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland
M’sia Exploring Cooperation In Trade & Investment With EFTA
Malaysia is exploring a framework for cooperation in trade and investment with the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
Indo-EFTA pact on trade & investment likely by next yr
The proposed trade and investment agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - is likely to be in place by the middle of next year. Swiss ambassador to India Dominique Dreyer said that the pact will give a big boost to trade and investment between the two sides. Relaxation of business visa norms, however, may not be on the cards as Switzerland would merge its visa system with other Schengen countries by the end of the year and hence will not be able to take decisions independently, the ambassador said.
Free trade: A baby step to the south
When Canada concluded free trade talks with Colombia in June, the announcement came in the form of a release on a Saturday. But burying news of the deal on a weekend hasn’t stopped a storm of protest. In Ottawa, the opposition blasted the government for reaching an FTA (whose ratification will likely take months) without waiting for an assessment report from the Commons trade committee, whose members recently travelled to Colombia - a country that has been plagued by drug trafficking, paramilitary death squads and other forms of strife.