ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - Delegations of Croatia and EFTA on Friday completed their first round of talks on a free trade agreement. During the two days the delegations discussed a draft agreement and exchanged views on a trade regime,
the Croatian Economy Ministry reported Friday.
ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - Delegations of Croatia and EFTA on Friday
completed their first round of talks on a free trade agreement.
During the two days the delegations discussed a draft agreement and
exchanged views on a trade regime, the Croatian Economy Ministry
reported Friday. #L#
The Exchange in goods with member countries of the EFTA in 1999
amounted to US$348 million, which is 2.89 per cent of Croatia's
overall trade.
The Croatian side has handed in lists of sensitive products which
demand a longer transition period until complete liberalisation
which has been agreed on for next February, the Ministry said.
The Croatian delegation is headed by Deputy Economy Minister Neven
Mimica and the EFTA delegation by Ole Lundby, a representative of
Norway which is currently presiding the European Free Trade
Agreement.
EFTA is a significant economic association including Switzerland,
Norway, Island and Liechtenstein, and is tightly connected with the
European union. Last year Croatia exported US$147.9 million worth
of goods into EFTA countries, at the same time importing US$199.9
million worth of goods from these countries.
In the first eight months of this year, trade amounted to US$134.1
million (one per cent of the total exchange of goods in the period).
Croatia imported US$28.6 million worth of goods, while it exported
US$105.5 million worth of goods into EFTA countries.
(hina) lml jn