EFTA and Bosnia and Herzegovina start free trade negotiations

Building on long-standing cooperation between both sides in the economic and other fields, the four EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and Bosnia and Herzegovina held a productive first round of free trade negotiations.

The parties agreed to focus on the liberalisation and facilitation of trade in goods as well as on the strengthening of the protection of intellectual property rights. During the meetings, all parts of the draft agreement were discussed and significant progress was achieved. Further meetings are foreseen before mid-2011.

The EFTA delegation was led by Hanspeter Tschäni, Minister, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, while Assistant Minister Midhat Salic, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, led the Bosnia and Herzegovina side. Total EFTA-Bosnia and Herzegovina trade amounted to USD 97 million in 2010.