The multi lateral trade agreement between Switzerland and the Balkan state of Montenegro will be in operation with effect from 1 September 2012 as announced by the Swiss 'Eidgenossenschaft Zollverwaltung' (EZV) last Monday.
Johann Schneider-Ammann, the Swiss minister of Economic Affairs, signed the free trade agreement last year together with his colleagues of the European Free Trade Association from Iceland, Liechenstein and Norway. The agreement simplifies the trade in industrial goods, fish and other marine products and agrarian processing products. In addition the agreement contains regulations regarding the protection of spiritual property, competition, trade relief, trade and durability.
The free trade agreement is to strengthen the economic and trade relations and especially to overcome the obstacles on the market of Montenegro, which have arisen as a result of the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) between Montenegro and the EU.