Vietnam and Four EFTA States Formally Sign Free-Trade Agreement; About Half of Norway's Exports to Be Tariff-Free on Entry Into Force
HANOI — Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein have signed a free-trade agreement with Vietnam, the governments of Norway and Vietnam announced on Sunday, Reuters reported on October 18.
Vietnam's trade ministry said it signed the deal in Hanoi with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members. Around half of Norway's exports to Vietnam will be tariff-free when the agreement enters into force, with more than 98% to be tariff-free within seven years, the Norwegian government said in a statement.
Long-stalled free-trade talks were relaunched last year amid global tensions over U.S. tariffs, and negotiations concluded in July. Vietnam's trade ministry said the Southeast Asian country mainly exports seafood, footwear, textiles, machinery and equipment, electronics and components to the EFTA market, and imports industrial machinery and equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and raw materials for production. Bilateral trade between Vietnam and EFTA member countries has averaged $2 billion annually, the ministry said. (GSM, from Reuters reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：越南河内还剑湖资料照片。照片：Vyacheslav Argenberg，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 4.0。Photo: Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam (file photo). Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
- 2026-10-14EFTA and Vietnam to Sign Free Trade Deal on Sunday, Swiss President Parmelin to Attend
- 2026-10-14Vietnam and EFTA to Sign Free Trade Deal in Hanoi on Sunday, Officials Say
- 2026-10-18Vietnam and Four EFTA States Formally Sign Free-Trade Agreement; About Half of Norway's Exports to Be Tariff-Free on Entry Into ForceThis story
