EFTA and Central American States announce start of free trade negotiations

The EFTA States, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama declared their readiness to commence negotiations early next year, whilst other Central American countries may join the negotiations at a later stage.

The announcement was made by Trond Giske, Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway (EFTA Chair); Einar Gunnarsson, Permanent Secretary of State of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland; Aurelia Frick, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein; and Johann Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs of Switzerland, on the EFTA side; as well as by Diana Salazar, Viceminister for International Trade Negotiations of Panama; Ambassador Ronald Saborío Soto of Costa Rica; and Ambassador Dacio Castillo of Honduras.
Building on a Joint Declaration on Cooperation signed by the EFTA States and Panama in July 2010, the EFTA States and the Central American States have since explored the possibility of establishing closer trade relations between the two regions. As part of this process, a high-level exploratory meeting was held in March 2011 in Panama City.

Merchandise trade between the EFTA States and the three Central American countries reached USD 646 million in 2010. EFTA's top exports to the Central American region include pharmaceutical products; clocks and watches; and precious stones. EFTA imports mainly fruits and nuts; precious stones; and spices, coffee and tea from Central America.

Click here for other language versions of the press release (French, Icelandic, German and Norwegian)

Click on the image below to see more pictures from the announcement.