The EFTA and Vietnam are set to sign a comprehensive free trade agreement on 15 October 2026, concluding negotiations that began in 2012 and covering investment protection, intellectual property, rules of origin, government procurement and other trade matters.
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam will sign a comprehensive free trade agreement today, 15 October 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The deal brings close to negotiations that began in 2012 and finally concluded in July this year. Global trade tensions, particularly surrounding US tariff policies, prompted both sides to accelerate talks that had stalled for years.
The EFTA bloc comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
The agreement covers investment protections, intellectual property rights, rules of origin, competition law, government procurement, and trade remedies. Officials in Hanoi confirmed the signing date earlier this week after discussions about timing based on participants’ schedules.
Earlier, the EU’s European Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) removed Vietnam from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes on 9 October 2026. The country was added in February 2026 following a Global Forum review that identified weaknesses in tax information exchange procedures. Vietnam subsequently implemented reforms and secured a new review.
