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Bilateral relations
Agreements
There is no one-size-fits-all model of a trade agreement but in most cases, the EU negotiates comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, known as FTAs. The rules for FTAs are set out in the WTO, specifically in Article XXIV of the GATT and Article V of the GATS.
FTAs are designed to create opportunities by:
- Opening new markets for goods and services
- Increasing investment opportunities
- Making trade cheaper - by eliminating substantially all customs duties
- Making trade faster - by facilitating goods' transit through customs and setting common rules on technical and sanitary standards
- Making the policy environment more predictable - by taking joint commitments on areas that affect trade such as intellectual property rights, competition rules and the framework for public purchasing decisions
Agreements in force
Here are links to trade agreements and other agreements with a trade component to which the EU is party.
WTO agreements
A list of WTO agreements can be found on the WTO web site
Preferential trade agreements
Under these agreements, the parties exchange tariff concessions or other preferential treatment.
Europe
- Faroe Islands - 01 January 1997
- Norway - 01 July 1973
- Iceland - 01 April 1973
- Switzerland - 01 January 1973
- The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - Stabilisation and Association Agreement, 01 May 2004
- Croatia - Stabilisation and Association Agreement, 01 February 2005
- Albania - Stabilisation and Association Agreement, 01 April 2009
- Montenegro - Stabilisation and Association Agreement, 01 May 2010
- Bosnia and Herzegovina - Interim Agreement on trade and trade related matters, 01 July 2008
- Serbia - Interim Agreement on trade and trade related matters, 01 February 2010
Mediterranean
- Algeria - Association Agreement, 01 September 2005
- Egypt - Association Agreement, 01 June 2004
- Israel - Association Agreement, 01 June 2000
- Jordan - Association Agreement, 01 May 2002
- Lebanon - Interim Agreement, 01 March 2003
- Morocco - Association Agreement, 01 March 2000
- Palestinian Authority - Association Agreement, 01 July 1997
- Syria - Co-operation Agreement, 01 July 1977
- Tunisia - Association Agreement, 01 March 1998
Other countries
- Chile - Association Agreement and Additional Protocol, 01 February 2003 (trade) / 01 March 2005 (full agreement)
- Mexico - Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement, 01 July 2000
- South Africa - Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement, 01 January 2000
- CARIFORUM States - Economic Partnership Agreement, Provisionally applied
- Ivory Coast - Interim Economic Partnership Agreement, Pending
- Cameroon - Interim Economic Partnership Agreement, Pending
- Korea - New Generation Free Trade Agreement, signed 06 October 2010
- Central America - Association Agreement, initialled 22 March 2011
- Peru - Colombia - Free Trade Agreement, initialled 23 March 2011
Customs unions
- Andorra - 01 July 1991
- Turkey - 31 December 1995
- San Marino - 01 December 1992
Bilateral relations
Trade relations with key trading partners
Facts, figures, latest developments and archives.