EFTA and Vietnam to Sign Free Trade Deal on Sunday, Swiss President Parmelin to Attend
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam are set to sign a free trade agreement in Hanoi on Sunday, Reuters reported on October 14. A spokesperson for Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said the deal will be signed in Parmelin's presence; Parmelin, who also holds Switzerland's rotating presidency, is currently on a visit to Asia. Two officials in Hanoi confirmed the signing would take place on Sunday.
The EFTA bloc comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Talks with Vietnam were first launched in 2012, stalled for years, and were relaunched last year amid global tensions over U.S. tariffs; the two sides concluded negotiations in July. The EFTA said in July that the accord would cover rules of origin, investment, intellectual property rights and competition, trade remedies and government procurement.
Reuters also reported that Vietnam said in September it had detained three activists on suspicion of terrorism, including a Norwegian national, whom human rights groups say were abducted in Cambodia. Norway's foreign ministry did not comment on any impact on the deal but said it had asked Vietnam to grant consular access. The detention did not affect the planned signing.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 瑞士经济部长兼联邦主席帕姆兰（资料图）。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Schweizerische Bundeskanzlei / Matthieu Gafsou 摄，署名授权（Attribution）
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