Negotiating teams from EFTA and Vietnam met in Hanoi from 20 to 23 October 2015 for a 13th round of negotiations on a free trade agreement.

Working groups addressed trade in goods; rules of origin; trade in services; trade remedies; legal, horizontal and institutional provisions; cooperation and capacity building; sustainable development; intellectual property rights and government procurement.

Chief negotiators also addressed a number of topics close to completion in order to finalise discussions and identify a way forward on outstanding issues. The two sides decided to confirm the dates for the next round of negotiations at a later stage.

Vietnam is a significant trading partner in South-East Asia. The value of total merchandise trade between EFTA and Vietnam reached USD 2.17 billion in 2014, an almost 20% increase from the previous year. Vietnam’s recent conclusion of negotiations with the European Union and in the Trans-Pacific Partnership framework have the potential of providing a positive impetus to the EFTA-Vietnam negotiations. 

Source: WTO Center and Integration

• 20th Round of Negotiations - 20 to 24 April 2026 in Hanoi, Viet Nam
• 19th Round of Negotiations - 24 to 27 February 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland
• 18th Round of Negotiations - 25 to 28 November 2025 in Da Nang, Viet Nam
• 17th Round of Negotiations - 8 to 10 September 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland
• 16th Round of Negotiations - 29 May to 1 June 2018 in Oslo, Norway