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ARTICLE · 27 JUNE 2007

Canada And The EFTA States Conclude Free Trade Agreement

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Canada announced a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), on June 7, 2007. Negotiators have agreed to the text. It will now undergo legal review, a process that is expected to take a number of months.

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Article by Cliff Sosnow and Jon Domanko (Student-at-Law), © 2007, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Originally published in Blakes Bulletin on International Trade, June 2007

A Goods-Based Agreement That Signals More To Come

Canada announced a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), on June 7, 2007. Negotiators have agreed to the text. It will now undergo legal review, a process that is expected to take a number of months. The text of the agreement will be made public after the Cabinet has reviewed the legal copy and has given signing approval. The text will then need to be ratified by Parliament.

Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway constitute the EFTA. These four highly developed nations rank in the top 10 of GDP per capita worldwide. The EFTA is the world’s fifth largest trader in commercial services and the 10th largest in merchandise.

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