India-European Free Trade
Association (EFTA)
Negotiations on broad-based Bilateral
Trade and Investment Agreement
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) comprises Switzerland, Iceland,
Norway & Liechtenstein. These countries are not part of the European Union (EU).
Recognizing the need for enhancing bilateral trade, a Joint Study Group between
India and EFTA was established and mandated to take a comprehensive view of
bilateral economic linkages between India and EFTA, covering among other, trade
in goods and services, investment flows, and other areas of economic
cooperation, and to examine the feasibility of a bilateral broad based trade and
investment agreement.
Based on the conclusions of JSG, negotiations commenced in October 2008 for
the India-EFTA broad based Trade and Investment Agreement. Four rounds of
negotiations have been held so far, in addition to the meeting of Experts held
in August 2009. The Fourth Round was held in September 2009.