European countries including Norway, Switzerland sign free trade agreement with Vietnam

Norway, ​and ​other nations ‌of European Free ​Trade Association, including Iceland, ‌Liechtenstein, and Switzerland have signed a free trade agreement with ‌Vietnam, the Norwegian government said ‌on Sunday. Around half of Norway's exports to Vietnam will ⁠be tariff-free ​when ⁠the agreement enters into force, ⁠with more than 98% to be ​tariff-free within seven years, ⁠the government said in a statement.

Vietnam ⁠and ​the EFTA bloc concluded negotiations in July after ⁠years of talks that were ⁠first ⁠launched in 2012.