Norwegian State Secretary Astrid Bergmål will travel to Hanoi to attend the signing ceremony for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Her visit is scheduled for 15–19 October, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ weekly programme, published on 10 October. The programme does not specify the date of the ceremony.
EFTA comprises Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The agreement aims to reduce customs duties and improve conditions for trade and investment between the four countries and Vietnam.
From negotiations to signing
EFTA and Vietnam announced the conclusion of negotiations on 2 July, following ministerial discussions in Reykjavík in June.
As ScandAsia previously reported, the negotiations began in 2012, stalled in 2018 and resumed in September 2025.
Bergmål’s planned attendance marks a further step towards signing the agreement. Her participation should not, however, be read as confirmation that the agreement has already been signed or entered into force.
Lower trade barriers
The agreement covers trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property, government procurement and sustainable development.
According to Vietnam’s government news portal, Vietnam has offered to eliminate tariffs on more than 86 percent of tariff lines, covering 99.9 percent of imports from EFTA. The reductions would take effect either immediately upon implementation or over periods of three to 15 years.
For Norwegian businesses trading with Vietnam, the agreement is therefore intended to improve market access, although the timing of individual tariff reductions will depend on the agreed schedules.
Source: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EFTA and Vietnam Government News
