Norway has signed a new free trade agreement with Kosovo
Press release | Date: 22/01/2025 | Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
Norway and the other EFTA-countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland signed a new free trade agreement with Kosovo on Wednesday 22. January. The agreement covers trade in goods and services, including financial services, intellectual property rights, competition and sustainable development.
- Kosovo is experiencing economic growth, and has an ambitious trade agenda. This agreement is both timely and mutually advantagous, and will help to promote increased cooperation and closer economic integration between Kosovo and the rest of Europe, says Ministerial EFTA Chair and Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Cecilie Myrseth.
Trade between the EFTA countries and Kosovo has increased steadily over several years, and amounted to approximately 176 million Euro in 2023.
- The free trade agreement achieves a significant liberalization of trade in goods and services between Norway and Kosovo, and contains robust provisions on intellectual property rights. The agreement also reflects our joint commitment to sustainable development. It will ensure that economic growth goes hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility, says the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry.
Background:
- The negotiations between Kosovo and the EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) started in autumn 2022, and were completed on 26 September 2024.
- The agreement was signed in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum 2025.
- Important export goods from the EFTA countries to Kosovo include vehicles and pharmaceutical products. From Kosovo, importers saw the EFTA states, among other things, furniture, plastics, as well as iron and steel goods.
Read more about the development in trade between the EFTA countries and Kosovo