EFTA States and the Gulf Cooperation Council hold a Joint Committee Meeting

Mr Erik Andreas Underland, Chief negotiator at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, acted as the EFTA spokesperson, while his excellency, Mr Fareed Alaseli, Deputy Governor at the Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade, headed the GCC delegation.

The Joint Committee discussed and agreed to a concise joint conclusion reflecting the entry into force and the implementation of the Agreement. EFTA and the GCC also finalised and agreed to a joint notification of the Agreement to the WTO Committee on Regional Trade Agreement (CRTA) and coordination on the submission of the notification. Finally, the Joint Committee discussed mechanisms for reimbursement of customs duties unduly paid, identifying the importance of accessibility to information on relevant contact points and applicable processes within GCC States and EFTA states for economic operators that may hold such claims.