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ARTICLE · 02 JULY 2009

Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Enters Into Force

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After ten years of on again – off again negotiations, a free trade agreement between Canada and the four countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—will finally come into force on July 1, 2009.

CanadaInternational Law
Peter Kirby
Peter Kirby
Henri Alvarez, KC
Henri Alvarez, KC
Dierk Ullrich
Dierk Ullrich
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After ten years of on again – off again negotiations, a free trade agreement between Canada and the four countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—will finally come into force on July 1, 2009. The Canada-EFTA FTA is an old style (first generation) trade agreement that is focused on tariff reductions and trade in goods while ignoring trade in services, investment or intellectual property. The agreement aims to increase merchandise trade in a variety of sectors, including forest products, pulp and paper products, manufactured housing, aluminum, cosmetics and motor vehicles and agriculture and agri-food products. This is Canada's first free trade agreement with European countries.

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