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Hong Kong, China and European Free Trade Association States conducted First Joint Committee meeting under Free Trade Agreement (with photos)
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     The first meeting of the Joint Committee established under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States, comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, was held in Geneva, Switzerland today (October 31, Geneva time).  The parties exchanged views on the implementation of the FTA, information on their economic and trade situation as well as other issues of interest.  
 
     The Joint Committee adopted rules of procedures necessary for the effective implementation of the FTA, and an Annex of comprehensive disciplines governing domestic regulation which seeks to ensure that measures affecting trade in services are transparent, administered in a reasonable and objective manner, and do not constitute unnecessary barriers to trade.  The Annex will first take effect between Hong Kong and Switzerland, and will apply to other EFTA States pursuant to a decision of the Joint Committee in future.
 
     The meeting was co-chaired by Director-General of Trade and Industry, Ms Salina Yan and Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council for Trade Agreements and Head of the World Trade Division of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Mr Markus Schlagenhof.
 
     “We treasure our good trade relations with the four EFTA States.  The FTA has helped give impetus to free and open trade and investments flows amongst parties to the FTA.  The Joint Committee welcomed the smooth and effective implementation of the FTA.  The parties will continue to work closely to implement the FTA with a view to bringing our trade and investment ties to the next level,” Ms Yan said.
 
     Ms Yan took the opportunity to highlight the major initiatives in the Chief Executive’s Policy Address, including Hong Kong’s efforts in developing innovation and technology industries as well as research and development services, and Hong Kong’s roles as a leading international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia Pacific region, and in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development.
 
     The FTA with the EFTA States was signed on June 21, 2011 in Liechtenstein, and entered into force in the fourth quarter of 2012.  The EFTA States, as a single entity, ranked as Hong Kong’s 14th largest merchandise trading partner in 2016, with total bilateral trade amounting to HK$84.5 billion.  In 2015, the EFTA States ranked as Hong Kong’s 16th largest services trading partner, with total bilateral trade amounting to HK$13.5 billion.
 
     In addition to the FTA with the EFTA States, Hong Kong has signed a Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with the Mainland, a Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with New Zealand, an FTA with Chile and a CEPA with Macao.  We will sign an FTA with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in November this year and sign an FTA with Georgia upon the completion of all the necessary internal procedures by both parties.  We will also continue to negotiate bilateral FTAs with Australia and the Maldives.
 
 
Ends/Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Issued at HKT 22:54
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Today's Press Releases  

Photo

The Director-General of Trade and Industry, Ms Salina Yan (right), and Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council for Trade Agreements and Head of the World Trade Division of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Mr Markus Schlagenhof (left) co-chaired the first meeting of the Joint Committee established under the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the European Free Trade Association States in Geneva, Switzerland today (October 31, Geneva time).
The Director-General of Trade and Industry, Ms Salina Yan, and Assistant Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Owin Fung, are at the first meeting of the Joint Committee under the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the European Free Trade Association States in Geneva, Switzerland today (October 31, Geneva time).
The Director-General of Trade and Industry, Ms Salina Yan (first right), introduces the latest economic and trade situation of Hong Kong at the first meeting of the Joint Committee under the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the European Free Trade Association States in Geneva, Switzerland today (October 31, Geneva time).