EFTA and Vietnam continue free trade talks

A fourth round of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EFTA States and Vietnam was held in Oslo, Norway from June 4 – 7, 2013.

During the round, the negotiating teams addressed the full range of topics to be covered by the future agreement, notably trade in goods, trade facilitation, rules of origin, trade remedies, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights, government procurement, competition, trade and sustainable development, cooperation and capacity building, as well as legal, horizontal and institutional provisions.

Deputy Director General Sveinung Røren from Norway acted as EFTA spokesperson, while the Vietnamese negotiating team was led by Director General Tran Trung Thuc. A detailed program of follow-up work was agreed by delegations in preparation for the next round, foreseen to take place in August in Vietnam.

The negotiating process between Vietnam and EFTA started in May 2012, based on a joint feasibility study concluded in 2011. Bilateral EFTA-Vietnam merchandise trade (imports and exports) amounted to USD 1.5 billion in 2012.

Source: www.norway.org.vn

 

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