EFTA - Thailand FTA (2025)
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Description of the measure: A concession to acquire a fishing vessel or share in a company which owns such vessels can only be given to a Norwegian citizen or a body that can be defined as a Norwegian citizen. A company is regarded as having equal rights with a Norwegian citizen when its main office is situated in Norway and the majority of the Board, including the Chair of the Board, are Norwegian citizens and have stayed in the country the last two years.

Norwegian citizens also have to own a minimum of 60% of the shares and have to be authorised to vote for at least 60% of the votes.

Ownership to the fishing fleet shall be reserved for professional fishermen. To obtain the right to own a fishing vessel, one has to have a record of active, professional fishing on a Norwegian fishing boat for at least three of the last five years.

It is prohibited for other persons than Norwegian nationals or companies, as defined above, to process, pack or transship fish, crustaceans and molluscs or parts and products of these inside the fishing limits of the Norwegian Economic Zone. This applies to catches from both Norwegian and foreign vessels. Exceptions are granted under special circumstances.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: Resource conservation and management.

Sector: All sectors

Sub-sector: -

Legal source or authority of the measure: -

Description of the measure: Collective copyright and neighbouring rights’ management systems; royalties, levies, grants and funds.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: To preserve and promote linguistic and cultural diversity in Norway.

Sector: All sectors

Sub-sector: -

Legal source or authority of the measure: -

Description of the measure: Norway reserves the right to apply measures inconsistent with Article 6.3 (National Treatment) for the imposition, enforcement or collection of direct taxes in so far as such measures do not contravene any tax treaty which is in force between Norway and Thailand.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: Taxation policy considerations.

Sector: All sectors

Sub-sector: -

Legal source or authority of the measure: -

Description of the measure: Foreign investments, including foreign participation in Norwegian companies, may be subject to prior notification requirements, examination or authorisation by the relevant Norwegian authorities.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: Investment policy considerations and national security.

APPENDIX 5 TO ANNEX XVI. RESERVATIONS BY SWITZERLAND

Sector: All sectors

Sub-sector: -

Level of government: All (Federal and Cantonal)

Legal source or authority of the measure: Federal Act of 30 March 1911 (Code of Obligations) supplementing the Swiss Civil Code (Systematic Collection of Federal Laws and Regulations, RS 220).

Description of the measure: For a “corporation” (société anonyme/ Aktiengesellschaft), a “corporation with unlimited partners” (société en commandite par actions/ Kommanditaktiengesellschaft), a “limited liability company” (société à responsabilité limitée/Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) and a “cooperative” (société cooperative/ Genossenschaft) at least one member of the governing body of the legal person or another person with the right to represent the legal person must be domiciled in Switzerland.

A foreign legal person may also establish one or several branch offices in Switzerland. At least one person of the branch office with the right to represent the branch office must be domiciled in Switzerland.

The establishment of a commercial presence by natural persons or in the form of an enterprise without juridical personality according to Swiss law (i.e. in a form other than “joint-stock company”, “limited liability company” or “co-operative”) is subject to the requirement of a permanent residence permit of the associate(s) under cantonal law. Switzerland reserves the right to maintain, modify or adopt any measures in this regard.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: To facilitate judicial proceedings.

Sector: All sectors

Sub-sector: -

Level of government: All (Federal and Cantonal)

Legal source or authority of the measure: Federal Act of 16 December 1983 on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad (RS 211.412.41).

Description of the measure: Acquisition of real estate by persons abroad is subject to authorisation by the relevant cantonal authority. For the purpose of a permanent business establishment or a main residence, authorization is granted upon verification of the purpose.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: Scarcity of available land.

Sector: All sectors

Sub-sector: -

Level of government: All (Federal and Cantonal)

Legal source or authority of the measure: -

Description of the measure:

Foreign participation in Swiss companies may be subject to prior investment notification requirements, examination and authorisation by the relevant Swiss authorities.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: Investment policy considerations and national security.

Sector: Other Mining and Quarrying / Manufacturing

Sub-Sector: Extraction of salt / Manufacture of salt

Level of government: Cantonal

Legal source or authority of the measure: Intercantonal Agreement on the sale of salt in Switzerland.

Cantonal legislations. 

Description of the measure: The right to dispose of subsurface resources belongs in somecantons to their exclusive competence and might be subject to monopoly. Cantons have the right to maintain measures in what regards salt extraction and salt trade. All salt and salt byproducts with a sodium chloride content of 30% and more and salt solutions with a sodium chloride content of 18% and more are subject to authorisation.

Switzerland reserves the right to maintain, modify or adopt any measures with respect to the disposal of subsurface resources and salt monopoly.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: -

Sector: Energy sector

Sub-sector: -

Level of government: All (Federal and Cantonal)

Legal source or authority of the measure: -

Description of the measure: Switzerland reserves the right to maintain or adopt any measure with respect to the energy sector.

Purpose or motivation of the measure: Energy policy considerations and national security.

Previous page Page 9
  • Chapter   1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 1
  • Article   1.1 Objectives 1
  • Article   1.2 Geographical Scope 1
  • Article   1.3 Trade and Economic Relations Governed by this Agreement 1
  • Article   1.4 Relation to other International Agreements 1
  • Article   1.5 Fulfilment of Obligations 1
  • Article   1.6 Transparency and Confidential Information 1
  • Chapter   2 TRADE IN GOODS 1
  • Article   2.1 Scope 1
  • Article   2.2 Customs Duties on Imports 1
  • Article   2.4 Rules of Origin and Administrative Cooperation 1
  • Article   2.5 Customs Valuation (1) 1
  • Article   2.6 Classification of Goods and Transposition of Schedules 1
  • Article   2.7 Import Licensing 1
  • Article   2.8 Quantitative Restrictions 1
  • Article   2.9 Fees and Formalities 1
  • Article   2.10 National Treatment on Internal Taxation and Regulations 1
  • Article   2.11 Trade Facilitation 1
  • Article   2.12 WTO Agreement on Agriculture 1
  • Article   2.13 Subsidies and Countervailing Measures 1
  • Article   2.14 Anti-dumping 1
  • Article   2.15 Global Safeguard Measures 1
  • Article   2.16 Bilateral Safeguard Measures 1
  • Article   2.17 State Trading Enterprises 1
  • Article   2.18 General Exceptions 1
  • Article   2.19 Security Exceptions 1
  • Article   2.20 Balance-of-Payments 1
  • Article   2.21 Preference Utilisation 1
  • Article   2 Sub-Committee on Trade In Goods 2
  • Chapter   3 TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 2
  • Article   3.1 Incorporation of the TBT Agreement 2
  • Article   3.2 Scope 2
  • Article   3.3 Objectives 2
  • Article   3.4 International Standards, Guides and Recommendations 2
  • Article   3.5 Movement of Goods, Border Control and Market Surveillance 2
  • Article   3.6 Conformity Assessment Procedures 2
  • Article   3.7 Cooperation 2
  • Article   3.8 Consultations 2
  • Article   3.9 Review 2
  • Article   3.10 Contact Points 2
  • Chapter   4 SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 2
  • Article   4.1 General Provision 2
  • Article   4.2 Definitions 2
  • Article   4.3 Scope 2
  • Article   4.4 Objectives 2
  • Article   4.5 Audit, Inspection and Certification 2
  • Article   4.6 Certificates 2
  • Article   4.7 Cooperation 2
  • Article   4.8 Movement of Goods 2
  • Article   4.9 Import Checks 2
  • Article   4.10 Technical Consultations 2
  • Article   4.11 Review 2
  • Article   4.12 Contact Points and Competent Authorities 2
  • Chapter   5 TRADE IN SERVICES 2
  • Article   5.1 Scope and Coverage 2
  • Article   5.2 Definitions 2
  • Article   5.3 Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment 3
  • Article   5.4 Market Access 3
  • Article   5.5 National Treatment 3
  • Article   5.6 Additional Commitments 3
  • Article   5.7 Domestic Regulation 3
  • Article   5.8 Recognition 3
  • Article   5.9 Movement of Natural Persons 3
  • Article   5.10 Transparency 3
  • Article   5.11 Monopolies and Exclusive Service Suppliers 3
  • Article   5.12 Business Practices 3
  • Article   5.13 Payments and Transfers 3
  • Article   5.14 Restrictions to Safeguard the Balance of Payments 3
  • Article   5.15 Subsidies 3
  • Article   5.16 General Exceptions 3
  • Article   5.17 Security Exceptions 3
  • Article   5.18 Schedules of Specific Commitments 3
  • Article   5.19 Modification of Schedules 3
  • Article   5.20 Review 3
  • Article   5.21 Annexes 3
  • Chapter   6 INVESTMENT 3
  • Article   6.1 Scope and Coverage 3
  • Article   6.2 Definitions 3
  • Article   6.3 National Treatment 3
  • Article   6.4 Reservations 4
  • Article   6.5 Key Personnel 4
  • Article   6.6 Right to Regulate 4
  • Article   6.7 Payments and Transfers 4
  • Article   6.8 Restrictions to Safeguard the Balance of Payments 4
  • Article   6.9 Consultations on Subsidies 4
  • Article   6.10 General Exceptions 4
  • Article   6.11 Security Exceptions 4
  • Article   6.12 Review 4
  • Article   6.13 Promotion of Investment 4
  • Article   6.14 Facilitation of Investment 4
  • Chapter   7 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 4
  • Article   7.1 Protection of Intellectual Property 4
  • Chapter   8 GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 4
  • Article   8.1 Objectives 4
  • Article   8.2 Scope 4
  • Article   8.3 Principles 4
  • Article   8.4 Transparency 4
  • Article   8.5 Use of Electronics Means 4
  • Article   8.6 Environmentally Sustainable Procurement 4
  • Article   8.7 Facilitation of Participation by SMEs 4
  • Article   8.8 Cooperation 4
  • Article   8.9 Further Negotiations 4
  • Article   8.10 Review 4
  • Article   8.11 Contact Points 4
  • Chapter   9 COMPETITION 4
  • Article   9.1 Rules of Competition 4
  • Article   9.2 Cooperation 4
  • Article   9.3 Consultations 4
  • Article   9.4 Dispute Settlement 4
  • Chapter   10 TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 4
  • Article   10.1 Context, Objectives and Scope 4
  • Article   10.2 Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection 4
  • Article   10.3 Upholding Levels of Protection In the Application and Enforcement of Laws, Regulations or Standards 4
  • Article   10.4 International Labour Standards and Agreements 4
  • Article   10.5 Inclusive Economic Development and Equal Opportunities for All 4
  • Article   10.6 Multilateral Environmental Agreements and International Environmental Governance 4
  • Article   10.7 Sustainable Forest Management and Associated Trade 4
  • Article   10.8 Trade and Climate Change 5
  • Article   10.9 Trade and Biological Diversity 5
  • Article   10.10 Trade and Sustainable Management of Fisheries and Aquaculture 5
  • Article   10.11 Trade and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems 5
  • Article   10.12 Promotion of Trade and Investment Favouring Sustainable Development 5
  • Article   10.13 Responsible Business Conduct 5
  • Article   10.14 Cooperation 5
  • Article   10.15 Implementation and Consultations 5
  • Article   10.16 Panel of Experts 5
  • Article   10.17 Review 5
  • Chapter   11 SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES 5
  • Article   11.1 General Provisions 5
  • Article   11.2 Information Sharing 5
  • Article   11.3 SMEs Contact Points and Cooperation 5
  • Article   11.4 Non-Application of Dispute Settlement 5
  • Chapter   12 TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING 5
  • Article   12.1 Objectives and Scope 5
  • Article   12.2 Methods and Means 5
  • Article   12.3 Fields of Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building 5
  • Article   12.4 Contact Points 5
  • Article   12.5 Non-Application of Dispute Settlement 5
  • Chapter   13 INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS 5
  • Article   13.1 Joint Committee 5
  • Article   13.2 Contact Points 6
  • Chapter   14 DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 6
  • Article   14.1 Scope and Coverage 6
  • Article   14.2 Good Offices, Conciliation or Mediation 6
  • Article   14.3 Consultations 6
  • Article   14.4 Establishment of Arbitration Panel 6
  • Article   14.5 Third Parties 6
  • Article   14.6 Terms of Reference 6
  • Article   14.7 Procedures of the Arbitration Panel 6
  • Article   14.8 Panel Reports 6
  • Article   14.9 Suspension or Termination of Arbitration Panel Proceedings 6
  • Article   14.10 Implementation of the Final Panel Report 6
  • Article   14.11 Compensation and Suspension of Concessions or other Obligations 6
  • Article   14.12 Time Periods 6
  • Article   14.13 Costs 6
  • Chapter   15 FINAL PROVISIONS 6
  • Article   15.1 Annexes, Appendices and Footnotes 6
  • Article   15.2 Amendments 6
  • Article   15.3 Accession 6
  • Article   15.4 Withdrawal and Expiration 6
  • Article   15.5 Entry Into Force 6
  • Article   15.6 Depositary 6
  • ANNEX XVI  REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6.3. INVESTMENT RESERVATIONS 6
  • APPENDIX 1 TO ANNEX XVI  RESERVATIONS BY THAILAND 6
  • APPENDIX 2 TO ANNEX XVI  RESERVATIONS BY ICELAND 8
  • APPENDIX 3 TO ANNEX XVI  RESERVATIONS BY LIECHTENSTEIN 8
  • APPENDIX 4 TO ANNEX XVI  RESERVATIONS BY NORWAY 8
  • APPENDIX 5 TO ANNEX XVI  RESERVATIONS BY SWITZERLAND 9