WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
14 May 2002
(02-2682)
Original: English
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND NORWAY
Biennial Report on the Operation of the Agreement
Communication from the Parties
The report below presents the information rece ived from the Permanent Delegation of the
European Commission, dated 19 April 2002.  It is organized in accordance with the standard format
(WT/REG/W/6).
_______________
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENT
1. Membership and Dates of Signature, Ratification and Entry into Force
The trade agreement between the European Community and Norway has undergone
considerable change since 1994. At that time the existing free trade agreements were largely replaced
by a new agreement, the Agreement on the European Economic Area,1 which links the European
Union and Norway, together with Iceland and Liechtenstein, in a broad integrated economic
agreement.
2. Type of Agreement
The EEA Agreement provides for the freedom of movement of goods, persons, services and
capital, throughout the territories of the Contracting Parties. It provides for a high degree of economic
integration, set out in a large number of Protocols and Annexes.
It also contains provisions for the strengthening and broadening of co-operation among the
Parties in a wide range of activities, including research and technological development, information
services, the environment, youth policy, education and training.
All transitional periods associated with the free trade area established by the EC/Norway
Agreement have long expired. The EEA Agreement pr ovides for some transitional periods to allow
for adaptation to the full terms of that Agreemen t. Most of these have also now expired, but some
remain subject to periodic review and will expire as the Contracting Parties’ legislation converges.
As additional legislation is integrated into the Agreement, the Parties may establish further
transitional periods, to allow for their adaptation.
4. Trade Data
Statistical data on the evolution of trade between the European Communities and Norway is
presented in the attached annex.
                                                     
1 Official Journal of the European Communities, No L1, 3 January 1994, p.1.WT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
Page 2
II. TRADE PROVISIONS
1. Import Restrictions &
2. Export Restrictions
The EEA Agreement confirms that all trade in  non-agricultural products between the EC and
Norway is free of duty or quantitative restrictions (as has been the case since the mid-1980s).
Arrangements for trade in agricultural, processed agricultural and fisheries products are according to
the relevant Articles of the Agreement set out in specific Protocols.
The extent of liberalisation under the EEA Agreement is only possible because the non-EU
members have agreed to take over in its entirety the whole of the Community acquis  in the relevant
economic sectors.  This is done on an ongoing basis, and requires a continuing effort on the part of the
Contracting Parties to integrate new acquis  into the Agreement.  Presently, the Agreement covers over
4,000 Community legislative acts.
3. Rules of Origin &
4. Standards &
5. Safeguards &
6. Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures &
7. Subsidies and State-aid
The EEA Agreement prohibits the use of trade defence instruments in relation to areas
covered by its provisions and in which the Community acquis  is fully integrated into the Agreement.
The Agreement provides that the non-EU Cont racting Parties will take over the EU’s acquis  into their
national legislation.  This concerns a wide ra nge of trade instruments and measures, including
standards, rules of origin, Veterinary and Phytosanitary regulations, rules on state aids and
competition etc.
8. Sector-Specific Provisions
Those products falling within chapters 1 to 24 of the HS system and a small number of other
products of agricultural origin, are covered by the EEA Agreement only to a limited extent, as set outin specific protocols to the Agreement (Protocol 3 for processed agricultural products, Protocol 9 for
fisheries products).  The EEA Agreement also includes a provision foreseeing future bilateral
negotiations for additional liberalisation in the agricultural sector.
III. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
5. Institutional Framework
The EEA Agreement is managed by a Joint Committee which meets on a monthly basis.
Political direction is provided by a Joint Council, and a number of other institutions with consultation,surveillance, judicial and arbitration functions are set up under the Agreement.
IV. OTHER
The Agreement provides for freedom of movement of persons, services and capital, as well as
of goods. These provisions are very wide and have very few exceptions, the most notable being the
fisheries sector, where access to investment in or participation in the industry in Norway is excluded.
Harmonisation of rules for intellectual property is also foreseen in a protocol and an annex.WT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
Page 3ANNEX
EU IMPORTS FROM WORLD AND NORWAY 1980-1998 (million ECU)
S I T C : 012345 67 8 9 TOTAL
EU IMPORTS
1980 (EU 9)
      WORLD 23,908 1,929 27,501 85,384 1,579 11,374 37,648 37,853 22,176 20,502 269,853
      Norway 315 1 401 3,286 41 339 1,518 449 135 1,649 8,134
1984 (EU 10)
      WORLD 33,643 2,810 36,139 107,594 2,803 19,968 48,969 71,432 34,537 24,205 382,100
      Norway 536 2 597 8,347 49 678 2,385 602 182 2,492 15,869
1988 (EU 12)
      WORLD 32,221 2,152 35,752 47,393 1,499 25,067 59,078 106,689 49,968 27,937 387,757
      Norway 877 3 672 5,026 21 746 3,138 1,007 262 749 12,502
1992 (EU 12)
      WORLD 34,580 3,215 32,218 65,183 1,748 33,888 69,355 146,277 76,771 23,900 487,135
       Norway 1,372 3 754 8,337 26 867 2,876 1,258 420 1,314 17,228
1996 (EU 15)
      WORLD 41,305 3,599 34,829 75,910 2,423 44,328 75,479 189,056 93,962 20,131 581,065
      Norway 1,753 13 945 12,863 47 1,487 4,351 2,510 875 2,703 27,864
1997 (EU 15)
      WORLD 44,248 4,072 40,131 85,155 2,554 51,485 87,685 229,346 108,779 17,690 672,413
      Norway 1,888 16 1,019 17,685 49 1,750 4,749 2,729 963 180 33,617
1998 (EU 15)
      WORLD 45,198 4,458 39,370 64,843 2,891 55,290 94,672 264,153 116,092 22,676 709,643
      Norway 2,205 10 977 12,270 57 1,820 4,960 3,194 1,060 186 29,058WT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
Page 4
EU EXPORTS TO WORLD AND NORWAY 1980-1998 (million ECU)
S I T C : 0123456789 T O T A L
EU EXPORTS
1980 (EU 9)
      WORLD 13,662 3,422 4,327 10,071 717 23,228 46,455 84,154 21,333 13,716 221,084
      Norway 218 27 120 675 10 414 1,052 1,643 693 284 5,136
1984 (EU 10)
      WORLD 21,120 5,784 7,319 18,087 1, 343 38,465 65,412 129,088 39,835 24,806 351,259
      Norway 269 37 178 631 10 606 1,692 2,850 1,192 572 8,038
1988 (EU 12)
      WORLD 19,588 6,205 7,602 8,232 1, 158 44,449 65,673 141,249 48,507 20,256 362,917
      Norway 394 64 287 234 14 735 1,571 3,090 1,559 567 8,515
1992 (EU 12)
      WORLD 24,887 8,778 8,068 10,552 1, 491 54,200 71,091 180,838 59,247 16,939 436,091
      Norway 478 77 218 243 17 896 1,813 3,626 1,761 732 9,861
1996 (EU 15)
      WORLD 30,646 10,339 11,414 15,431 1 ,998 79,144 102,957 283,081 79,287 12,695 627,011
      Norway 811 127 659 680 35 1,820 3,775 7,645 2,954 425 19,755
1997 (EU 15)
      WORLD 33,504 12,374 13,084 17,109 2 ,575 93,046 114,927 331,113 88,686 13,717 721,109
      Norway 823 157 773 791 49 2,059 4,182 9,996 3,364 272 23,361
1998 (EU 15)
      WORLD 31,772 12,005 11,554 13,833 2 ,831 95,885 112,815 343,435 89,424 16,869 730,423
      Norway 841 169 779 594 72 2,198 4,532 10,824 3,691 410 24,943WT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
Page 5EU TRADE WITH NORWAY BY HS SECTION
(Million ECU)
EXPORTS IMPORTS
SECTION 1988 1992 1996 1997 1998 SECTION 1988 1992 1996 1997 1998
TOTAL 8,515 9,861 19,756 23,361 24,943 TOT AL 12,502 17,228 27,864 33,617 29,058
I 41 49 86 82 79 I 779 1,228 1,467 1,590 1,835
I I 1 6 4 1 7 5 2 7 5 3 0 1 2 8 4 I I 53666
III 15 19 34 49 76 III 22 26 35 34 40
IV 312 397 657 705 750 IV 101 157 306 329 397
V 285 298 799 952 761 V 5,313 8,701 13,288 18,146 12,717
VI 650 745 1,538 1,754 1,922 VI 504 606 1,040 1,245 1,315
VII 436 493 964 1,075 1,078 VII 307 322 624 672 669
VIII 113 57 74 81 76 VIII 98 47 90 116 108
IX 59 56 467 532 545 IX 84 217 291 309 298
X 221 284 967 1,001 999 X 791 813 1,253 1,179 1,273
XI 753 770 955 1,017 1,046 XI 67 68 134 139 137
XII 99 108 176 185 194 XII 1 1 11 11 8
XIII 190 144 289 335 362 XIII 42 57 120 122 116
XIV 45 42 84 90 88 XIV 21 20 64 59 62
XV 881 1,172 2,088 2,374 2,678 XV 2,417 2,052 2,984 3,455 3,568
XVI 2,176 2,479 5,250 6,166 7,221 XVI 693 880 1,836 2,021 2,306
XVII 915 1,163 2,488 3,945 3,824 XVII 304 369 673 713 888
XVIII 297 374 603 720 894 XVIII 106 207 307 358 437
X I X 1 08 1 0 1 3 2 2 X I X 12783
XX 287 289 708 862 917 XX 90 135 327 359 376
XXI 187 175 258 262 294 XXI 129 94 994 176 179WT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
Page 6
EU TRADE WITH WORLD BY HS SECTION
(Million ECU)
EXPORTS IMPORTS
SECTION 1988 1992 1996 1997 1998 SECTION 1988 1992 1996 1997 1998
TOTAL 362,917 436,091 627,011 721,109 730,423 T OTAL 387,757 487,135 581,065 672,413 709,643
I 7,060 8,001 9,980 10,897 10,062 I 8, 349 10,300 10,897 12,227 13,296
II 6,372 8,511 8,819 9,757 9,145 II 17,55 5 17,353 23,130 25,437 24,992
III 1,341 1,673 2,286 2,977 3,156 III 1,542 1,781 2,250 2,390 2,693
IV 13,817 19,194 24,510 27,744 27,279 I V 13,638 15,595 18,511 19,019 19,518
V 9,723 12,152 17,487 19,630 16,711 V 55,920 73,081 84,793 95,737 75,508
VI 37,393 46,951 68,968 81,772 85,215 V I 22,179 29,303 39,774 46,234 49,432
VII 15,521 16,914 23,128 27,148 27,504 V II 10,125 13,862 17,132 19,323 21,043
VIII 4,119 4,084 7,159 7,375 6,435 VIII 6,121 5,701 7,590 8,498 8,224
IX 1,771 2,035 4,045 4,927 5,182 IX 9, 615 10,926 9,118 10,973 11,434
X 7,937 10,271 18,033 19,764 19,803 X 17,605 19,227 11,110 11,996 12,571
XI 20,244 25,208 31,611 34,724 35,221 X I 28,639 39,478 47,467 55,248 57,903
XII 3,440 4,526 5,922 6,313 6,043 XII 3,325 5,451 7,029 8,308 8,274
XIII 7,153 8,120 11,257 12,916 12, 894 XIII 2,593 3,883 4,386 5,090 5,648
XIV 13,026 12,425 16,992 19,285 17,990 X IV 17,526 15,037 21,620 23,890 26,981
XV 30,826 30,864 42,214 46,944 45,623 X V 26,101 29,345 33,661 40,312 44,472
XVI 93,666 120,842 193,730 226,482 234,539 XVI 81,389 106,397 146,298 173,122 195,378
XVII 46,674 59,351 89,086 104,705 110,049 XVII 25,240 40,386 42,797 56,275 68,476
XVIII 14,107 17,067 23,982 28,129 29,109 XVIII 14,869 19,652 24,343 27,814 29,926
XIX 402 388 1,097 1,326 1,656 XIX 118 194 466 603 510
XX 7,819 9,378 13,350 15,177 15,242 XX 6 ,655 12,072 14,394 17,529 19,046
XXI 8,204 5,727 13,354 13,115 11,565 XXI 5,733 5,511 14,298 12,387 14,318WT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
Page 7balance balance
HS Section M Euro % Total M Euro % Total M Euro M Euro % Total M Euro % Total M Euro imports exports
07-Aug-01
Total 45,683 100.0% 25,538 100.0% -20,145 1,026,798 100.0% 937,836 100.0% -88,961 4.4% 2.7% 0.56
of which:
01 Animals & animal products 2,043 4.5% 95 0.4% -1,947 15,386 1.5% 12,064 1.3% -3,321 13.3% 0.8% 0.05
02 Vegetable products 13 0.0% 350 1.4% 337 25,086 2.4% 11,223 1.2% -13,864 0.1% 3.1% 26.86
03 Animal or vegetable fats 34 0.1% 44 0.2% 10 2,360 0.2% 2,687 0.3% 327 1.5% 1.7% 1.30
04 Prepared foodstuffs 357 0.8% 848 3.3% 490 22,170 2.2% 29,937 3.2% 7,767 1.6% 2.8% 2.37
05 Mineral products 26,407 57.8% 1,191 4.7% -25,216 160,181 15.6% 33,372 3.6% -126,808 16.5% 3.6% 0.05
06 Chemical products 1,667 3.6% 2,176 8.5% 508 63,673 6.2% 113,378 12.1% 49,705 2.6% 1.9% 1.30
07 Plastics & rubber 745 1.6% 1,189 4.7% 444 26,308 2.6% 35,240 3.8% 8,932 2.8% 3.4% 1.60
08 Hides & skins 87 0.2% 87 0.3% 0 10,204 1.0% 8,969 1.0% -1,234 0.8% 1.0% 1.00
09 Wood & wood products 346 0.8% 594 2.3% 248 14,618 1.4% 7,007 0.7% -7,611 2.4% 8.5% 1.72
10 Wood pulp products 1,429 3.1% 1,166 4.6% -264 17,021 1.7% 24,481 2.6% 7,461 8.4% 4.8% 0.82
11 Textiles & textile articles 123 0.3% 1,030 4.0% 907 69,611 6.8% 40,549 4.3% -29,062 0.2% 2.5% 8.39
12 Footwear, headgear 9 0.0% 190 0.7% 181 10,903 1.1% 6,825 0.7% -4,078 0.1% 2.8% 21.10
13 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos 136 0.3% 388 1.5% 252 7,846 0.8% 15,121 1.6% 7,275 1.7% 2.6% 2.85
14 Pearls, (semi-)precious stones, metals 109 0.2% 113 0.4% 3 35,656 3.5% 28,969 3.1% -6,687 0.3% 0.4% 1.03
15 Base metals & articles thereof 4,375 9.6% 2,157 8.4% -2,218 57,454 5.6% 52,942 5.6% -4,512 7.6% 4.1% 0.49
16 Machinery & mechanical applicances 2,364 5.2% 7,479 29.3% 5,115 298,805 29.1% 298,008 31.8% -797 0.8% 2.5% 3.16
17 Transportation equipment 1,094 2.4% 3,704 14.5% 2,610 90,679 8.8% 139,903 14.9% 49,224 1.2% 2.6% 3.38
18 Instruments - measuring, musical 452 1.0% 835 3.3% 384 42,480 4.1% 39,533 4.2% -2,947 1.1% 2.1% 1.85
19 Arms & ammunition 9 0.0% 30 0.1% 21 601 0.1% 1,574 0.2% 973 1.4% 1.9% 3.44
20 Miscellaneous 422 0.9% 1,029 4.0% 607 27,149 2.6% 18,409 2.0% -8,739 1.6% 5.6% 2.44
21 Works of art 15 0.0% 22 0.1% 7 2,672 0.3% 4,583 0.5% 1,910 0.6% 0.5% 1.47
Other 3,446 7.5% 820 3.2% -2,626 25,935 2.5% 13,062 1.4% -12,872 13.3% 6.3% 0.24
Source : Eurostat COMEXT 30 Jul 01 (Statistical regime 4) TRADE/D/1  Paul VERBURGTimports exportsEU15 trade 2000 with EXTRA-EUR Norway / Total
0028 NorwayNorway
market shares Exp-Imp 
ratio
1011 Extra-EUREU15 trade 2000 with Norway
imports exportsWT/REG137/R/B/1
G/L/550
Page 8
__________EU15 trade 1997-2000 with Norway (m illion Euro)
imports exports balance total trade
HS Section 1997 1998 1999 2000 1997 1998 1999 2000 1997 1998 1999 2000 1997 1998 1999 2000
011 Extra-EU1507-Aug-01
Total 33,711 28,134 29,593 45,683 23,361 25,088 23,244 25,538 -10,350 -3,045 -6,350 -20,145 57,072 53,222 52,837 71,221
of which:
01 Animals & animal products 1,590 1,837 1,892 2,043 82 79 82 95 -1,508 -1,758 -1,810 -1,947 1,673 1,916 1,974 2,138
02 Vegetable products 6 7 8 13 301 295 313 350 295 289 305 337 307 302 321 363
03 Animal or vegetable fats 34 40 32 34 49 79 47 44 15 39 15 10 84 119 80 79
04 Prepared foodstuffs 329 397 371 357 705 756 817 848 376 359 446 490 1,033 1,153 1,188 1,205
05 Mineral products 18,146 11,784 13,373 26,407 952 772 936 1,191 -17,194 -11,012 -12,437 -25,216 19,097 12,556 14,309 27,598
06 Chemical products 1,245 1,318 1,433 1,667 1,754 1,946 1,940 2,176 509 628 507 508 2,999 3,264 3,372 3,843
07 Plastics & rubber 672 670 641 745 1,075 1,086 1,081 1,189 403 417 439 444 1,747 1,756 1,722 1,935
08 Hides & skins 116 110 71 87 81 76 66 87 -35 -33 -5 0 197 186 137 174
09 Wood & wood products 309 298 340 346 532 546 518 594 223 248 178 248 841 844 859 941
10 Wood pulp products 1,179 1,271 1,271 1,429 1,001 1,003 1,060 1,166 -178 -269 -211 -264 2,180 2,274 2,331 2,595
11 Textiles & textile articles 139 137 128 123 1,017 1,050 1,014 1,030 878 913 886 907 1,157 1,188 1,141 1,153
12 Footwear, headgear 1 1879 1 8 5 1 9 7 1 8 9 1 9 0 1 7 5 1 8 9 1 8 1 1 8 1 1 9 6 2 0 4 1 9 6 1 9 9
13 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos 122 116 124 136 335 367 359 388 213 250 234 252 457 483 483 524
14 Pearls, (semi-)precious stones, metals 59 62 67 109 90 88 95 113 31 26 28 3 149 150 162 222
15 Base metals & articles thereof 3,455 3,599 3,759 4,375 2,374 2,732 2,195 2,157 -1,081 -866 -1,564 -2,218 5,830 6,331 5,954 6,532
16 Machinery & mechanical applicances 2,021 2,314 2,327 2,364 6,166 7,247 7,055 7,479 4,145 4,933 4,729 5,115 8,187 9,560 9,382 9,843
17 Transportation equipment 807 890 760 1,094 3,945 3,833 2,894 3,704 3,138 2,943 2,134 2,610 4,752 4,723 3,653 4,799
18 Instruments - measuring, musical 358 439 406 452 720 896 810 835 363 457 405 384 1,078 1,335 1,216 1,287
19 Arms & ammunition 8 3 13 9 13 22 27 30 5 19 14 21 21 24 40 38
20 Miscellaneous 359 376 406 422 862 922 952 1,029 503 546 545 607 1,222 1,298 1,358 1,451
21 Works of art 1 1 81 41 5 2 01 62 82 2 8 81 4 7 3 12 44 23 6
Other 2,735 2,451 2,150 3,446 1,100 1,081 767 820 -1,635 -1,370 -1,383 -2,626 3,835 3,531 2,917 4,267
Source : Eurostat COMEXT 30 Jul 01 (Statistical regime 4) TRADE/D/1  Paul VERBURGTNorway
0028 Norway