WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG88/R/B/2
G/L/470
31 August 2001
(01-4181)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:  English
EFTA-SLOVAK REPUBLIC FREE TRADE AREA
Biennial Report on the Operation of the Agreement
Communication from the Parties
The report below presents the information received from the European Free Trade
Association and the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic, dated 25 July 2001.  It is organized inaccordance to the Standard Format for Information on Regional Trade Agreements (WT/REG/W/6).
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The Agreement between the States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the
Slovak Republic was examined in accordance with Article XXIV of GATT.  In accordance with the
guidelines approved by the Council For Trade in Goods
1, as recommended by the Committee on
Regional Trade Agreements2, and the reporting schedule established by the WTO Secretariat, the
Parties to the Agreement establishing the Free Trade Area between the EFTA States and the SlovakRepublic herewith provide their biennial report on the operation of the Agreement covering the period
since 1999.  The Parties to the Agreement submitted a biennial report on the operation of the
Agreement on 28 May 1999, circulated in WT/REGG86/R/B/1; G/L/353.
Main developments
The Parties have continued to pay attention to updating and upgrading the Agreement.
During the reporting period (1999-2000), the Joint Committee held one meeting on
14 December 2000, and has adopted seven Joint Committee Decisions.  For further details, see
Annex I.
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENT
1. Membership and Dates of Signature,  Ratification and Entry into Force
The Agreement was signed on 20 March 1992, originally between the EFTA States and the
Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR).  Following the dissolution of the CSFR on
31 December 1992, a Protocol on the succession by the Slovak Republic to the Agreement was signedon 19 April 1993.
The Agreement entered into force on 1 July 1992.  Austria, Finland and Sweden ceased to be
Parties to the FTA, following their withdrawal from the EFTA Convention and subsequent accession
to the European Union on 1 January 1995.  Liechtenstein has applied it provisionally as of1 January 1997.  The Agreement can be consulted on the EFTA web page:
http://www.efta.int/library/legal/fta/slovak/.
                                                     
1 G/L/286.
2 WT/REG/4.WT/REG88/R/B/2
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2. Trade Data
According to the EFTA Secretariat’s statistical sources, trade between the EFTA States and
the Slovak Republic expanded by 42 per cent in the period from 1997 to 2000.  EFTA imports from
the Slovak Republic increased by 125 per cent and EFTA exports to the Slovak Republic fell by
8.6 per cent during the same period.
The trade balance between the two was in favour of the EFTA States in 1997 and 1998 and
then in favour of the Slovak Republic in 1999 and 2000.  In 2000, EFTA exports to the Slovak
Republic amounted to 148 million US dollars while imports from the Slovak Republic amounted to224 million US dollars.
Among the EFTA States, Switzerland was the Slovak Republic’s largest trading partner
in 2000, accounting for 86.9 per cent of the trade, fo llowed by Norway with 12.3 per cent and Iceland
with 0.8 per cent.
In the period 1997 to 2000, the EFTA States’ total trade increased by 6.9 per cent, or in
absolute terms from 239.7 billion US dollars to 256.1 billion US dollars.  Both import and export
figures showed the same positive trend.
In the period 1997 to 2000, the Slovak Republic’s share of EFTA’s total trade with the world
has increased from 0.11 per cent to 0.15 per cent. With regard to other free trade partners, the share of
the Slovak Republic’s trade with the EFTA States’ total preferential trade (including trade with the
EU) increased from 0.16 per cent in 1997 to 0.20 per cent in 2000.
Detailed trade data can be found in Annex II.
II. TRADE PROVISIONS
1. Import Restrictions &
2. Export Restrictions
Both the EFTA States and the Slovak Republic have dismantled and/or abolished customs
duties and quantitative restrictions in accordance with the timetables of the Agreement.  They have
also accelerated the gradual dismantling/abolishing of certain trade restrictions such as Icelandic,
Liechtenstein and Swiss customs duties of a fiscal nature.  It should be noted that the abolition of
these duties was done on an MFN basis.  The Parties have complied with all requirements set out in
the Agreement and all transitional periods have come to an end.
3. Rules of Origin
Since all Parties to the Agreement are included in the system of pan-European cumulation
system, annual amendments to Protocol on Origin Rules (Protocol B) have been made in 1999 and
2000 (see Annex I).WT/REG88/R/B/2
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III. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
5. Institutional Framework
A Joint EFTA-Slovak Republic Committee has been established under the Agreement.  The
aim of the Joint Committee is to supervise and administer the implementation of the Agreement, aswell as to review the possibility of further remova l of obstacles to trade between the Parties.  The
Joint Committee is assisted by expert groups, in particular by the Sub-Committee on Customs and
Origin Matters.  Other expert groups can be convened, as agreed.  During the reporting period, the
sixth Joint Committee took place on 14 December 2000 in Geneva.WT/REG88/R/B/2
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ANNEX I
Amendments to the EFTA – Slovak Republic FTA since 1999
Articles/
AnnexesDescription Amendments
/ DeletionsRemarks Entry into
Force
Protocol B Rules of origin and
methods ofadministrative co-operationAmended JCD
of 07.01.1999Protocol B updated in line with
the updated rules on pan-European cumulation.Entered into
force01.01.1999
Protocol B Rules of origin and
method of
administrative co-operationAmended JCD
of 22.12.1999Protocol B updated in line with
the updated rules on pan-
European cumulation.Entered into
force
01.01.2000
Annex II Fish and other marine
productsAmended JCD
of 14.12.2000The last exceptions for
freshwater fish were deleted.Entered into
force01.01.2001
Protocol B Rules of origin and
methods of
administrative co-
operationAmended JCD
of 14.12.2000Protocol B updated in line with
the updated rules on pan-
European cumulation.Entered into
force
01.01.2001
Joint
DeclarationtoProtocol BTransitional period
concerning issuing ofdocuments relating toproof of originDeleted JCD
of 14.12.2000Entered into
force01.01.2001
Annex IV Slovak transitional
arrangements for the
abolition of importduties and chargeshaving equivalenteffectDeleted JCD
of 14.12.2000. Entered into
force
01.01.2001
Protocol D State monopolies Amended JCD
of 14.12.2000Elimination of
Swiss/Liechtenstein monopoly
on gunpowder and Icelandic
monopoly on fertilizers.Entry into
force is
pending
nationalacceptanceWT/REG88/R/B/2
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ANNEX II
Detailed Trade Data
Statistical information on:
• EFTA States’ trade with the Slovak Republic 1997-2000
• EFTA States’ trade with the Slovak Republic by selected commodities 1998-2000
• EFTA States’ trade with the world 1997-2000
• EFTA States’ trade with the world by selected commodities 1998-2000WT/REG88/R/B/2
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EFTA STATES' TRADE WITH SLOVAK REPUBLIC
1997 1998 1999 2000 1997/98 1998/99 99/2000
In thousand US dollars Percentage Change
IMPORTS
Iceland 1,007 1,155 1,458 2,500 14.7 26.2 71.5
Norway 12,280 17,323 23,702 26,252 41.1 36.8 10.8
Switzerland 86,495 136,294 152,459 195,739 57.6 11.9 28.4
EFTA 99,782 154,772 177,619 224,491 55.1 14.8 26.4
Share in EFTA's tot. imports 0.09% 0.13% 0.15% 0.19%
EXPORTS
Iceland 0 16 165 133 931.3 -19.4
Norway 18,205 16,896 19,153 19,767 -7.2 13.4 3.2
Switzerland 143,425 150,723 119,368 127,775 5.1 -20.8 7.0
EFTA 161,630 167,635 138,686 147,675 3.7 -17.3 6.5
Share in EFTA's tot. exports 0.13% 0.14% 0.11% 0.11%
IMPORTS + EXPORTS
Iceland 1,007 1,171 1,623 2,633 16.3 38.6 62.2
Norway 30,485 34,219 42,855 46,019 12.2 25.2 7.4
Switzerland 229,920 287,017 271,827 323,514 24.8 -5.3 19.0
EFTA 261,412 322,407 316,305 372,166 23.3 -1.9 17.7
Share in EFTA's total trade 0.11% 0.13% 0.13% 0.15%
 No percentage calculated
Source: World Trade Atlas2.500.132620196
128
020406080100120140160180200
Iceland Norway SwitzerlanEFTA States' trade with the Slovak Republic
(2000 - million US
Imports
Exports
EFTA STATES' TRADE WITH SLOVAK REPUBLIC BYWT/REG88/R/B/2
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SELECTED COMMODITIES (HS)
1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000
IMPORTS In thousand US dollars In per cent
Iceland
Total imports from Slovak Republic 1,155 1,458 2,500 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of imports from world 0.05% 0.06% 0.11%
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 221 208 1,062 19.1 14.3 42.5
     HS 76  Aluminium and articles thereof 34 133 371 2.9 9.1 14.8
     HS 62  Woven apparel or  clothing accessories 133 190 233 11.5 13.0 9.3
Norway
Total imports from Slovak Republic 17,323 23,702 26,252 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of imports from world 0.05% 0.07% 0.08%
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical appliances 4,433 5,006 5,409 25.6 21.1 20.6
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 2,092 5,199 4,358 12.1 21.9 16.6
     HS 94  Furniture and bedding 749 2,028 3,294 4.3 8.6 12.5
     HS 64  Footwear 1,015 2,156 2,653 5.9 9.1 10.1
     HS 54  Manmade filaments 1,457 2,084 2,124 8.4 8.8 8.1
     HS 48  Paper, paperboard 83 620 1,484 0.5 2.6 5.7
     HS 73  Iron and steel products 252 492 1,153 1.5 2.1 4.4
     HS 62  Woven apparel or clothing accessories 1,313 1,238 982 7.6 5.2 3.7
Switzerland
Total imports from Slovak Republic 136,294 152,459 195,739 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of imports from world 0.17% 0.19% 0.24%
     HS 87  Vehicles (not railway) 57,170 71,820 107,702 41.9 47.1 55.0
     HS 48  Paper, paperboard 10,834 9,557 13,242 7.9 6.3 6.8
     HS 54  Manmade filaments 1,116 6,114 10,047 0.8 4.0 5.1
     HS 94  Furniture and bedding 11,983 9,027 9,438 8.8 5.9 4.8
     HS 62  Woven apparel or cl othing accessories 9,954 8,746 8,208 7.3 5.7 4.2
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical appliances 6,413 7,912 6,891 4.7 5.2 3.5
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 3,823 3,460 5,541 2.8 2.3 2.8
     HS 72  Iron and steel 5,101 3,696 5,144 3.7 2.4 2.6
     HS 86  Railway vehicles 396 6,702 4,187 0.3 4.4 2.1
     HS 73  Iron and steel products 2,207 2,923 3,776 1.6 1.9 1.9
EXPORTS In thousand US dollars In per cent
Iceland
Total exports to Slovak Republic 16 165 134 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of exports to world: 0.00% 0.01% 0.01%
     HS 30  Pharmaceutical products 0 141 134 0.0 85.5 100.0
     HS 01  Live animals 0 8 0 0.0 4.8 0.0
     HS 16  Preparation of meat, fish 0 17 0 0.0 10.3 0.0
Norway
Total exports to Slovak Republic 16,896 19,153 19,767 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of exports to world: 0.04% 0.04% 0.03%
     HS 48  Paper, pape rboard 1,845 3,756 4,769 10.9 19.6 24.1
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical appliances 4,892 3,827 3,578 29.0 20.0 18.1
     HS 99  Salvage, reparations 2,492 2,573 2,604 14.7 13.4 13.2
     HS 47  Woodpulp 253 2,592 2,390 1.5 13.5 12.1
     HS 56  Wadding, felt, twine, rope 198 1,264 1,774 1.2 6.6 9.0
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 1 880 1,316 0.0 4.6 6.7
     HS 03  Fish, crustaceans 1,528 1,380 887 9.0 7.2 4.5
     HS 76  Aluminium and articles thereof 920 337 729 5.4 1.8 3.7WT/REG88/R/B/2
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1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000
Switzerland
Total exports to Slovak Republic 150,723 119,368 127,775 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of exports to world: 0.19% 0.15% 0.16%
     HS 30  Pharmaceutical products 26,868 32,715 31,808 17.8 27.4 24.9
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 29,079 13,318 18,538 19.3 11.2 14.5
     HS 86  Railway vehicles 0 773 13,007 0.0 0.6 10.2
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical appliances 20,298 19,250 12,520 13.5 16.1 9.8
     HS 39  Plastic, plastic articles 9,511 10,193 9,571 6.3 8.5 7.5
     HS 52  Cotton 4,418 4,456 4,715 2.9 3.7 3.7
     HS 90  Optical, medical, surgical instruments 5,502 5,032 4,619 3.7 4.2 3.6
     HS 38  Misc. chemical products 21,310 4,413 3,787 14.1 3.7 3.0
     HS 48  Paper, paperboard 1,388 2,891 3,563 0.9 2.4 2.8
     HS 29  Organic chemicals 2,514 1,289 2,663 1.7 1.1 2.1
Source:  World Trade Atlas
EFTA States' trade with the Slovak Republic 1995-2000 
(in million US dollars)
050100150200250
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000Imports
Exports
Source: World Trade AtlasWT/REG88/R/B/2
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EFTA STATES' TRADE WITH THE WORLD
1997 1998 1999 2000 1997/98 1998/99 99/2000
In thousand US dollars Percentage Change
IMPORTS
Iceland 1,851,157 2,284,704 2,315,759 2,380,086 23.4 1.4 2.8
Norway 35,673,861 37,451,092 33,779,975 31,674,645 5.0 -9.8 -6.2
Switzerland 75,770,047 80,267,624 80,008,545 82,411,758 5.9 -0.3 3.0
EFTA 113,295,065 120,003,420 116,104,279 116,466,489 5.9 -3.2 0.3
Share in EFTA's tot.
imports100% 100% 100% 100%
EXPORTS
Iceland 1,850,720 1,926,744 2,001,400 1,889,770 4.1 3.9 -5.6
Norway 48,495,496 40,374,441 44,82 4,714 57,367,564 -16.7 11.0 28.0
Switzerland 76,021,445 78,842,006 80,295,179 80,402,473 3.7 1.8 0.1
EFTA 126,367,661 121,143,191 127,121,293 139,659,807 -4.1 4.9 9.9
Share in EFTA's tot.
exports100% 100% 100% 100%
IMPORTS +
EXPORTS
Iceland 3,701,877 4,211,448 4,317,159 4,269,856 13.8 2.5 -1.1
Norway 84,169,357 77,825,533 78,604,689 89,042,209 -7.5 1.0 13.3
Switzerland 151,791,492 159,109,630 160,303,724 162,814,231 4.8 0.8 1.6
EFTA 239,662,726 241,146,611 243,225,572 256,126,296 0.6 0.9 5.3
Share in EFTA's tot trade100% 100% 100% 100%
 No percentage calculated
Source: World Trade Atlas2,3801,89031,67557,36882,41280,402
010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,00090,000
Iceland Norway SwitzerlandEFTA States' trade with the world
(2000 - million US dollars)
Import
ExportWT/REG88/R/B/2
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EFTA STATES' TRADE WITH THE WORLD BY SELECTED COMMODITIES (HS)
1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000
IMPORTS In thousand US dollars In per cent
Iceland
Total imports from the world 2,284,704 2,315,759 2,380,086 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of imports from world 100% 100% 100%
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical
appliances343,400 338,079 304,921 15.0 14.6 12.8
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 279,576 259,297 276,459 12.2 11.2 11.6
     HS 87  Vehicles (not railway) 228,117 265,046 249,848 10.0 11.4 10.5
Norway
Total imports from the world 37,451,092 33,779,975 31,674,645 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of imports from world 100% 100% 100%
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical
appliances6,328,865 5,644,825 4,805,467 16.9 16.7 15.2
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 3,506,578 3,353,604 3,376,049 9.4 9.9 10.7
     HS 87  Vehicles (not railway) 3,535,595 3,089,991 2,956,628 9.4 9.1 9.3
     HS 27  Mineral fuels, oil 947,888 1,035,991 1,163,853 2.5 3.1 3.7
     HS 39  Plastic, plastic articles 1,085,801 1,019,696 994,492 2.9 3.0 3.1
     HS 94  Furniture and bedding 1,010,353 975,274 963,645 2.7 2.9 3.0
     HS 89  Ships, boats and floating
structures2,619,491 1,604,601 931,579 7.0 4.8 2.9
     HS 73  Iron and steel products 1,914,583 1,270,865 926,097 5.1 3.8 2.9
Switzerland
Total imports from the world 80,267,624 80,008,545 82,411,758 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of imports from world 100% 100% 100%
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical
appliances10,571,578 11,075,982 11,203,711 13.2 13.8 13.6
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 7,184,466 7,490,076 8,180,210 9.0 9.4 9.9
     HS 87  Vehicles (not railway) 6,668,542 7,032,447 6,789,513 8.3 8.8 8.2
     HS 71  Precious stones and metals 6,937,018 5,076,812 6,726,878 8.6 6.3 8.2
     HS 30  Pharmaceutical products 3,463,563 4,293,309 4,283,838 4.3 5.4 5.2
     HS 29  Organic chemicals 4,092,940 3,961,542 4,265,592 5.1 5.0 5.2
     HS 27  Mineral fuels, oil 2,365,844 2,379,581 3,760,061 2.9 3.0 4.6
     HS 39  Plastic, plastic articles 2,892,037 2,865,059 2,865,389 3.6 3.6 3.5
     HS 90  Optical, medical, surgical
instruments2,540,987 2,699,511 2,708,710 3.2 3.4 3.3
     HS 94  Furniture and bedding 2,025,839 2,102,726 1,960,136 2.5 2.6 2.4
EXPORTS In thousand US dollars In per cent
Iceland
Total exports to the world 1,926,744 2,001,400 1,889,770 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of exports to world: 100% 100% 100%
     HS 03  Fish, crustaceans 1,022,550 1,066,335 953,473 53.1 53.3 50.5
     HS 76  Aluminium and articles thereof 267,540 319,073 352,473 13.9 15.9 18.7
     HS 16  preparations of meat, fish 181,135 159,460 132,692 9.4 8.0 7.0
Norway
Total exports to the world 40,374,441 44,824,714 57,367,564 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of exports to world: 100% 100% 100%
     HS 27  Mineral fuels, oil 17,472,594 22,803,716 36,287,450 43.3 50.9 63.3
     HS 03  Fish, crustaceans 3,293,716 3,452,780 3,266,934 8.2 7.7 5.7
     HS 99  Salvage, reparations 2,852,882 2,626,850 2,567,594 7.1 5.9 4.5
     HS 76  Aluminium and articles thereof 2,383,826 2,152,071 2,453,409 5.9 4.8 4.3
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical
appliances2,622,145 2,548,091 2,300,745 6.5 5.7 4.0
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 1,525,444 1,457,122 1,451,713 3.8 3.3 2.5
     HS 48  Paper, paperboard 802,279 794,343 746,990 2.0 1.8 1.3WT/REG88/R/B/2
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1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000
     HS 72  Iron and steel products 829,051 732,428 688,860 2.1 1.6 1.2
Switzerland
Total exports to the world 78,842,006 80,295,179 80,402,473 100.0 100.0 100.0
In per cent of exports to world: 100% 100% 100%
     HS 84  Machinery, mechanical
appliances15,525,047 15,220,247 15,217,874 19.7 19.0 18.9
     HS 30  Pharmaceutical products 8,034,124 9,036,844 8,257,533 10.2 11.3 10.3
     HS 85  Electrical machinery 7,437,217 7,388,342 7,778,432 9.4 9.2 9.7
     HS 29  Organic chemicals 7,022,523 7,079,625 7,026,746 8.9 8.8 8.7
     HS 91  Clocks and watches 5,810,028 5,976,159 6,073,494 7.4 7.4 7.6
     HS 71  Precious stones and metals 4,400,966 5,111,609 6,061,537 5.6 6.4 7.5
     HS 90  Optical, medical, surgical
instruments4,500,309 4,704,777 4,860,803 5.7 5.9 6.0
     HS 39  Plastic, plastic articles 2,772,396 2,752,348 2,628,327 3.5 3.4 3.3
     HS 32  Tanning, dye, paints, putty, inks 1,876,173 1,809,686 1,792,976 2.4 2.3 2.2
     HS 73  Iron and steel products 1,821,551 1,748,717 1,706,374 2.3 2.2 2.1
Source:  World Trade Atlas
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