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  1. Negotiations

EFTA


While often overlooked, the European Free Trade Association -- composed of Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland -- actively seeks comprehensive bilateral FTAs much like its rivals the EU, the US, Japan, Canada or Australia. EFTA's outward push towards FTAs is led and dominated by corporate powerhouse Switzerland, home to some of the world's biggest pharmaceutical, agricultural biotechnology, banking and insurance companies.

EFTA has established important bilateral FTAs with Chile (2003), Israel (1992), Jordan (2001), Korea (2005), Lebanon (2004), Mexico (2000), Morocco (1997), the Palestinian Authority (1998), Turkey (1991), Singapore (2002), Tunisia (2004), the Southern Africa Customs Union (2006), Egypt (2007), Canada (2007), the GCC (2008), Colombia (2008) and Peru (2008).

The group is currently negotiating FTAs with India, Indonesia, Thailand, Algeria and Pakistan. It is expected to launch talks shortly with Malaysia and Vietnam, while similar deals with Russia and Ukraine are planned for later.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Campax

Switzerland fast-tracks India trade pact implementation
23-Jun-2026     The Economic Times
Switzerland has put implementation of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with India on the fast track, with the aim of boosting investment and trade ties with New Delhi.
Parliament approves EFTA trade agreement with Malaysia
18-Jun-2026     blue
The Federal Assembly has approved the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EFTA countries and Malaysia, which was concluded last year.
Swiss House rejects EFTA-Mercosur free trade deal
18-Jun-2026     Swiss Info
The Swiss House of Representatives has rejected the free trade deal between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states and the Mercosur states Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The result was 96 to 86 votes and nine abstentions.
EFTA–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement: The climate implications for Switzerland
5-May-2026     Public Eye
Une nouvelle étude d'Alliance Sud et Public Eye montre que les émissions de CO2e liées à l’accord pourraient augmenter de 112 % rien que pour les produits agricoles.
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.
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.
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
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-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.
After India-Norway pact, Nordic cos eye Goa as hub
19-May-2025     The Times of India
The recently signed India-EFTA (European Free Trade Association) Free Trade Agreement between India and Norway has prompted Nordic firms to explore Goa as a potential hub.

Referenced sites

EFTA FTAs

Database of all FTAs entered into by the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.)

EFTA Secretariat

Website of the EFTA Secretariat