India, EFTA sign FTA to promote investments, boost two-way trade in goods and services

11 Mar 2024 Evaluate

With an aim to promote investments and boost two-way trade in goods and services, India and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have signed a free trade agreement (FTA). The agreement has 14 chapters, including trade in goods, rules of origin, intellectual property rights (IPRs), trade in services, investment promotion and cooperation, government procurement, technical barriers to trade and trade facilitation. The EFTA members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Under free trade pacts, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them, besides easing norms to promote trade in services and investments. India and EFTA have been negotiating the pact, officially dubbed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), since January 2008. Thirteen rounds of talks were held till November 2013 before negotiations were put on hold. Both sides resumed the negotiations in October 2023 and concluded it in a fast-track mode.

EFTA countries are not part of the European Union (EU). It is an inter-governmental organisation for the promotion and intensification of free trade. It was founded as an alternative for states that did not wish to join the European community. India is negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement separately with the EU, the 27-nation bloc.


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