WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG88/R/B/3 
G/L/772 31 March 2006 
 
(06-1514) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
 
 
 
EFTA-SLOVAK REPUBLIC FREE TRADE AREA 
 
Biennial Report on the Operation of the Agreement  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 17 March 2006, is being circulated at the request of the 
EFTA States.     It is organized in accordance to the Standa rd Format for Information on Regional Trade 
Agreements (WT/REG/W/6). 
_______________ 
 
 
 In accordance with the guidelines approve d 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 in WT/REG/W/33,  the Parties to the Agreement establishing the 
free trade area between the EFTA States and the Slovak Republic ( FTA) herewith provide their 
biennial report on the operation of the agreement covering the period of July 2001 to April 2004. The last such report was issued on 31 August 2001
3. 
 
Main developments  
 In the reporting period, the Joint Committee met once on 10 February 2003 and adopted one 
Joint Committee decision. For further details see A nnex I. The agreement ceased to exist on 1 May 
2004, when the Slovak Republic became a member of the European Union.   
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENT 
1. Membership and dates of signatu re, ratification and entry into force 
 
 The agreement was signed on 20 March 1992, originally be tween the EFTA States and the 
Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR). Followi ng the dissolution of the CSFR on 31 December 
1992, a Protocol on the succession by the Slovak Re public to the agreement was signed on 19 April 
1993. 
  
 The agreement entered into force on 1 July 199 2. Austria, Finland and Sweden ceased to be 
Parties to the FTA, following their withdrawal  from the EFTA Convention and accession to the 
European Union on 1 January 1995. Liechtenstein has applied it provisionally as of 1 January 1997. 
  
                                                     
 
1 G/L/286 
2 WT/REG/4 
3 WT/REG88/R/B/2 WT/REG88/R/B/3 
G/L/772 Page 2 
 
 
  4. Trade Data 
 
 According to EFTA’s statistical sources, trade between the EFTA States and the Slovak 
Republic experienced strong growth between 2000 and 2003. Total trade grew from 372 million USD 
in 2000 to 514 million USD in 2003, an increase of 38%. EFTA imports grew from 224 million USD 
in 2000 to 279 million USD in 2003 (25% increa se). Exports increased from 128 million USD in 2000 
to 211 million USD in 2003 (59% increase). The tr ade balance remains in favour of the Slovak 
Republic. 
 Among the EFTA States, Switzerland is the larg est trading partner with the Slovak Republic. 
In 2003, Switzerland accounted for 85% of total tr ade, followed by Norway with 14% and Iceland 
with 1%.   Annex II: Trade statistics
 
 
 
II. TRADE PROVISIONS 
3. Rules of origin 
 
 In 2003, a technical error in the specific list rule for ex 4114 in Appendix II to Annex A was corrected. 
 
 
III. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT 
5. Institutional framework 
 
 A Joint EFTA-Slovak Republic Committee was est ablished under the agreement to supervise 
and administer its implementation. During the repor ting period, the seventh and last Joint Committee 
meeting took place in Bratis lava on 10 February 2003. 
  The agreement was replaced by the Agreem ent on the European Economic Area (EEA) and 
the bilateral agreements between Sw itzerland and the European Union. 
 
 
ANNEX I 
 
Amendments To The EFTA-Slovak Republic FTA Since 2001  
 
DC No. Adopted: In force: Title: Subject: 
A-2003-SK-
D-001 10.02.03 10.02.03 Amendments to 
Protocol B Origin rules 
 
  WT/REG88/R/B/3 
 G/L/772 
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   ANNEX II 
 
 2000 2001 2002 2003 2001/00 2002/01 2003/02
                  In thousand US dollars    Percentage change
IMPORTS
Iceland 2,502 1,528 2,169 2,757 -38.9 42.0 27.1
Norway 26,093 24,894 35,770 47,993 -4.6 43.7 34.2
Switzerland 195,739 184,034 180,538 228,067 -6.0 -1.9 26.3
EFTA 224,334 210,456 218,477 278,817 -6.2 3.8 27.6
Share in EFTA's tot. imports 0.19% 0.18% 0.18% 0.20%
EXPORTS
Iceland 134 296 200 200 121.7 -32.5 -0.1
Norway 19,960 15,233 16,522 23,883 -23.7 8.5 44.6
Switzerland 127,775 152,208 167,826 210,727 19.1 10.3 25.6
EFTA 147,869 167,737 184,548 234,810 13.4 10.0 27.2
Share in EFTA's tot. exports 0.10% 0.12% 0.12% 0.14%
IMPORTS + EXPORTS
Iceland 2,636 1,824 2,369 2,957 -30.8 29.9 24.8
Norway 46,052 40,127 52,293 71,876 -12.9 30.3 37.4
Switzerland 323,515 336,242 348,363 438,795 3.9 3.6 26.0
EFTA 372,203 378,193 403,025 513,627 1.6 6.6 27.4
Share in EFTA's total trade 0.14% 0.15% 0.15% 0.17%
-- no percentage calculated
Source: World Trade AtlasEFTA STATES' TRADE WITH THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
2.76 0.2048
24228
211
050100150200250
Iceland Norway SwitzerlandEFTA States' trade with the Slovak Republic
(2003 - million US dollars)
Imports
ExportsWT/REG88/R/B/3 
G/L/772 Page 4 
 
 
   EFTA STATES' TRADE WITH THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC BY SELECTED COMMODITIES (HS)
Source: World Trade Atlas 2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003 
IMPORTS In thousand US dollars In per cent
Iceland
Total imports from the Slovak Republic 1,528 2,169 2,757 100.0 100.0 100.0 
In per cent of imports from the world 0.07% 0.10% 0.11%
HS 94 Furniture and bedding 307 288 554 20.1 13.3 20.1 
HS 62 Woven apparel or clothing accessories 431 395 506 28.2 18.2 18.4 
HS 37 Photographic or cinematographic goods 153 316 406 10.0 14.6 14.7 
Norway
Total imports from the Slovak Republic 24,894 35,770 47,993 100.0 100.0 100.0 
In per cent of imports from the world 0.08% 0.11% 0.12%
HS 64 Footwear 3,886 6,280 12,020 15.6 17.6 25.0 
HS 84 Machinery, mechanical appliances 4,660 4,363 5,194 18.7 12.2 10.8 
HS 85 Electrical machinery 1,112 2,035 4,474 4.5 5.7 9.3 
HS 94 Furniture and bedding 3,907 5,666 4,330 15.7 15.8 9.0 
HS 73 Iron and steel products 1,042 2,592 4,208 4.2 7.2 8.8 HS 62 Woven apparel or clothing accessories 1,603 3,544 3,638 6.4 9.9 7.6 
HS 48 Paper, paperboard 1,814 1,978 2,978 7.3 5.5 6.2 
HS 56 Wadding, felt, twine, rope 102 1,257 1,666 0.4 3.5 3.5 
Switzerland
Total imports from the Slovak Republic 184,034 180,538 228,067 100.0 100.0 100.0 
In per cent of imports from the world 0.22% 0.22% 0.24%
HS 87 Vehicles (not railway) 103,561 115,870 136,634 56.3 64.2 59.9 
HS 85 Electrical machinery 8,442 7,553 12,256 4.6 4.2 5.4 
HS 84 Machinery, mechanical appliances 7,694 7,051 10,844 4.2 3.9 4.8 
HS 62 Woven apparel or clothing accessories 11,602 11,597 10,573 6.3 6.4 4.6 HS 73 Iron and steel products 4,584 4,739 9,001 2.5 2.6 3.9 
HS 63 Miscellaneous textile articles 5,048 5,348 7,062 2.7 3.0 3.1 
HS 94 Furniture and bedding 3,857 5,621 6,388 2.1 3.1 2.8 
HS 39 Plastic, plastic articles 1,475 1,221 3,581 0.8 0.7 1.6 
HS 48 Paper, paperboard 6,540 2,425 3,461 3.6 1.3 1.5 HS 44 Wood 2,562 2,009 2,573 1.4 1.1 1.1 
EXPORTS In thousand US dollars In per cent
Iceland
Total exports to the Slovak Republic 296 200 200 100.0 100.0 100.0 
In per cent of exports to the world: 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%  
HS 84 Machinery, mechanical appliances 1 0 160 0.4 0.0 80.1 HS 30 Pharmaceutical products 289 137 36 97.5 68.5 18.2 
HS 39 Plastic, plastic articles 0 0 3 0.0 0.0 1.5 
Norway
Total exports to the Slovak Republic 15,233 16,522 23,883 100.0 100.0 100.0 
In per cent of exports to the world: 0.03% 0.03% 0.04%
HS 99 Salvage and reparations 0.0 0.0 0.0 
HS 48 Paper, paperboard 2,812 5,205 9,262 18.5 31.5 38.8 
HS 85 Electrical machinery 2,800 2,397 3,664 18.4 14.5 15.3 
HS 84 Machinery, mechanical appliances 1,913 2,394 3,037 12.6 14.5 12.7 
HS 87 Vehicles (not railway) 1,644 1,578 2,138 10.8 9.6 9.0 HS 47 Woodpulp 48 529 1,608 0.3 3.2 6.7 
HS 90 Optical, medical, surgical instruments 2,177 1,801 921 14.3 10.9 3.9 
HS 03 Fish, crustaceans 637 581 664 4.2 3.5 2.8 
Switzerland
Total exports to the Slovak Republic 152,208 167,826 210,727 100.0 100.0 100.0 
In per cent of exports to the world: 0.19% 0.19% 0.21%
HS 30 Pharmaceutical products 23,116 37,247 61,601 15.2 22.2 29.2 
HS 84 Machinery, mechanical appliances 27,894 29,476 26,219 18.3 17.6 12.4 
HS 39 Plastic, plastic articles 8,404 17,164 19,843 5.5 10.2 9.4 
HS 85 Electrical machinery 25,561 17,619 18,648 16.8 10.5 8.8 HS 86 Railway vehicles 16,550 6,848 11,907 10.9 4.1 5.7 
HS 90 Optical, medical, surgical instruments 6,440 6,933 7,974 4.2 4.1 3.8 
HS 52 Cotton 8,115 7,164 7,612 5.3 4.3 3.6 
HS 48 Paper, paperboard 4,363 5,317 7,173 2.9 3.2 3.4 
HS 38 Misc. chemical products 3,875 4,051 6,600 2.5 2.4 3.1 
HS 54 Manmade filaments 980 2,555 3,900 0.6 1.5 1.9  WT/REG88/R/B/3 
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 EFTA States' trade with th e Slovak Republic 1995-2003
(in million US dollars)
050100150200250300
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003Imports
Exports
Source: World Trade Atlas