by Pia Lee Brago, Philstar, May 8, 2016
The Philippines has signed a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) composed of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. signed the agreement with EFTA states on April 28 in Berne, Switzerland.
Present during the signing was Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Joselito Jimeno.
During the signing ceremony, the Philippines and the EFTA states noted their significant economic relations while stressing the importance of the agreement in further strengthening such relationship.
Under the FTA, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Philippines can directly supply some products that EFTA currently imports from ASEAN or from the rest of the world, including frames and mounting for spectacles, parts of gas turbines, ball bearings, hydraulic power engines, babies’ garments, undergarments, dresses; among others.
“The PH-EFTA FTA is expected to boost the flow of trade and commercial exchanges between the Philippines and EFTA countries,” Jimeno said.
In November 2013, the Philippines formally sat down with the EFTA states and announced its interest to undertake negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.
This was followed by the signing in June 2014 of the Joint Declaration on Cooperation, which formalized the negotiation process.
With a combined population of over 13 million and a combined gross domestic product of $1.2 trillion, EFTA states are the world’s 9th largest merchandise trader and the 5th largest trader in commercial services.
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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