Monitoring implementation of the free trade agreements
Switzerland, together with the other EFTA states, makes significant efforts to monitor the implementation of the provisions of its free trade agreements. The principal body responsible for this work is the Joint Committee established under each FTA.
Joint Committee
The Joint Committee is composed of representatives of the EFTA member states and the partner country and meets regularly. These meetings provide a forum for discussing issues relating to the FTA in question, such as difficulties in implementing particular provisions or proposals for revising or developing the agreement further.
Implementation of trade and sustainable development provisions
Where a trade and sustainable development chapter has been negotiated with a free trade partner, its implementation is discussed at Joint Committee meetings. To prepare for and support this exchange, EFTA continuously collects and analyses information on developments and potential implementation problems in the partner country during the reporting period, and maintains up-to-date country profiles for these partners. It draws on publicly available sources as well as input from experts in the member states, embassies in the partner country, EFTA advisory bodies, national stakeholders and civil society in the EFTA states.
Civil society engagement
To gather information on potential implementation problems – including in the trade and sustainable development chapter – the public is encouraged to submit relevant information via the SECO and EFTA websites. In Switzerland, civil society can also feed relevant information to SECO through various forums, such as the EAER's Economic Policy Commission or the Foreign Trade Sounding Board, an open forum for all interested parties.
The information gathered feeds into discussions at Joint Committee meetings, on the basis of which the EFTA states identify any necessary follow-up action. A summary of Switzerland's and EFTA's efforts to monitor the implementation of TSD provisions in their FTAs is available on the EFTA website.
Index
Related topics
Multilateral economic relations
Switzerland actively promotes an open, fair, and rules-based trading system, strengthening transparent trade rules and international cooperation through the WTO, the OECD, and new partnerships.
Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the WTO and EFTA
The Permanent Mission of Switzerland in Geneva represents Switzerland at the WTO, EFTA, UN economic bodies (UNECE and UNCTAD) and the ITC. It safeguards Swiss interests and fosters cooperation on global economic and trade issues.
Contact
Foreign Economic Affairs Directorate
World Trade / Free Trade Agreements/EFTA Division
Holzikofenweg 36
3003 Bern