Business · Trade · 1 hr ago
Vietnam signs free-trade agreement with four European countries
Vietnam signed a free-trade agreement with four European countries in Hanoi on Sunday.
The partners are Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, which together form the European Free Trade Association, or EFTA.
EFTA is separate from the European Union, and the agreement covers trade in goods and services, intellectual property and sustainable development.
Talks began in 2012, were interrupted in 2018 and resumed last year; negotiations concluded in July.
The deal will cut or remove customs duties on some products, including industrial, fish and agricultural goods.
Norway says around half of its exports to Vietnam will be tariff-free when the agreement takes effect, rising to more than 98% within seven years.
The agreement is intended to widen Vietnam's trade links and help it diversify its import and export markets; the sources do not give a date for when it will take effect.
Vietnam signed a free-trade agreement with the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries in Hanoi on Sunday.
The EFTA members are Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, which are not part of the European Union.
The deal reduces or removes customs duties and covers goods and services, intellectual property and sustainable development, among other areas.
Around half of Norway’s exports to Vietnam will be tariff-free when the agreement enters into force, rising to more than 98% within seven years.
Negotiations began in 2012, were interrupted in 2018 and resumed last year before concluding in July.
- Who
- Vietnam and the four EFTA countries: Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
- What
- They signed a free-trade agreement that reduces or removes customs duties and covers several trade-related areas.
- When
- Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Hanoi, Vietnam.
- Why
- Vietnam said the agreement would help diversify its import and export markets and integrate more deeply into global value chains.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Official talks between Vietnam and EFTA began.
The talks were interrupted.
The talks resumed.
Negotiations concluded.
Vietnam and the four EFTA countries signed the agreement in Hanoi.
- EFTA members
- Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein
- Signing location
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Norwegian exports
- Around half will be tariff-free when the deal enters into force
- Tariff-free share
- More than 98% of Norway’s exports to Vietnam within seven years
- EFTA–Vietnam trade value
- €4.8 billion in 2025
5 sources
فيتنام توقع اتفاق تجارة حرة مع دول أوروبية منها النرويج وسويسرا
Vietnam signs free trade deal with four European countries
Vietnam signs free trade deal with four European nations
Efta unterzeichnet am Sonntag Freihandelsabkommen mit Vietnam
What people are saying
reinforce the rules-based trading system amid continued volatility in the global economy
diversify its import and export markets