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India EFTA


Switzerland govt submits EFTA-India trade agreement to Parliament
The Swiss government has submitted a free trade agreement with India to its parliament for ratification. The agreement aims to increase trade and investment between the two regions. However, it has faced public opposition due to concerns about environmental impacts and the protection of domestic industries.
The India-EFTA deal: A model for developing countries
Governments are shifting from investor-state dispute mechanisms to treaties that encourage and ease investment.
India’s newly amended patent rules threaten affordable medicines in the Global South
It is no coincidence that just five days before the amendments were announced, India signed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association.
TEPA’s IP encroachment: A new barrier to indigenous innovation
The new approach to intellectual property and investment through FTAs accepts an IP maximalist agenda of the United States Trade Representative; it threatens to upset the fine balance between public and private interests and push India away from essential innovations.
Switzerland seeks bilateral investment treaty with India
Switzerland pursues a new bilateral investment treaty with India post EFTA deal, addressing model treaty concerns.India remains reluctant on concessions, focusing on market.
Implications for intellectual property rights following Switzerland and India’s new free trade agreement
The FTA contains various provisions on the protection of intellectual property rights that will influence trade between Swiss and Indian companies.
Key details of India’s pact with four-nation European trade bloc
India and the members of the European Free Trade Association held 21 rounds of talks over 16 years to clinch the broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement.
Switzerland signs free trade deal with India
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, has inked a free trade agreement with India that is expected to be ratified in 2025.
EFTA trade deal to include investment commitment
The EFTA that includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will be encouraging $ 50 billion of investments by their companies in India in the first 10 years of the FTA coming into force.
Swiss trade deal: Is India changing its tune on pharma patents?
Intellectual property protection for the Swiss pharmaceutical industry has been a key sticking point in negotiations on a free trade agreement with India. Now there seems to be a breakthrough in talks after 16 years. What’s changed?
Thorny clause in ripening India-European Free Trade Association deal may hit generic drug industry
The clause in the draft free trade agreement text could delay access to affordable, generic versions of patented drugs in India by a minimum of six years, according to documents.
Switzerland and Norway could invest $100 billion in India
Ties are getting stronger between India and some European economies in the form of a new free trade agreement and enormous investment plans.
India seeks service inclusion, investment commitment from Switzerland in EFTA trade deal
India and EFTA have held negotiations on several chapters including trade in goods & services, intellectual property rights, investment promotion and cooperation, rules of origin, trade facilitation and trade and sustainable development.
India, European trade bloc close to inking deal after 16 yrs of talks
European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the four-nation trading bloc comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, is close to signing a trade agreement with India.
EFTA and India meet in Delhi for 21st round of negotiations towards a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement
Delegations from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – and India gathered in Delhi from 8 to 13 January 2024 for an intense 21st round of negotiations towards a trade agreement.
Majority of India-UK FTA issues either closed or at advanced stage of talks: Official
The discussions on the majority of policy areas in the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK have either been closed or are in an advanced stage of negotiation.
EFTA: Trade deficit, Swiss blanket removal of import duties to hurt India
The report by economic think tank GTRI said the trade agreement in the current format will not help Indian exports and will result in higher imports and wider trade deficit.
Logjam in negotiations between India and EFTA on free trade deal
Switzerland has expressed concerns in the latest negotiations on provisions related to mobility of Indian professionals and intellectual property rights. The four members of EFTA – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – have pushed for finalisation of the proposed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) so that it can be signed before India begins the process for conducting a general election in 2024
India to receive Trade Ministers from Switzerland, Norway for ‘critical talks’ this week
Four-nation EFTA grouping of Nordic countries has stepped up trade negotiations; senior Ministry of External Affairs delegation visited last week