EFTA States Sign Free Trade Agreement With Georgia

The EFTA-Georgia FTA was signed by Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland; Aurelia Frick, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein; and Monica Mæland, Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway, on the EFTA side and by Dimitry Kumsishvili, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

Building on a Joint Declaration on Cooperation signed by the EFTA States and Georgia in Gstaad in June 2012, the negotiations started in September 2015 and concluded in February 2016 following three rounds. The EFTA-Georgia FTA has comprehensive coverage, including trade in goods (industrial and agricultural goods, fish and other marine products), rules of origin, trade facilitation, SPS, TBT, trade in services, investment, competition, protection of intellectual property rights, government procurement and sustainable development. A Joint Committee will oversee the implementation of the FTA. The Agreement will enter into force after completion of the necessary internal procedures for ratification by the Parties.