India's trade deal with Switzerland and Norway
Before the EU deal, India signed one with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It has been in force since October 2025.
The basics
- Parties: India and the four EFTA states: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
- In force: since 1 October 2025.
- Distinctive feature: an objective for EFTA states to promote USD 100 billion of investment in India over 15 years, and the creation of one million direct jobs.
What it covers
- Tariff cuts on a large share of EU–India trade, many phased in over several years
- Services commitments
- Investment promotion
- Intellectual property, trade facilitation and sustainable development
What changes for companies
- For Swiss and Norwegian companies: lower Indian duties on machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, precision instruments and processed food, and a political push for investment in India.
- For Indian exporters: improved access to the EFTA markets, which are high-income and open.
- For investors: a dedicated investment promotion framework, including an EFTA desk in India.
EFTA and the EU deal
EFTA countries are not in the EU, so the EU–India FTA does not cover them. Companies with operations in both EFTA and EU countries will need to check which agreement applies to each shipment, based on origin.
Read next
- The India–EFTA trade agreement after its first yearIndia's trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein turned one on 1 October 2026. What it promised and what to watch.
- The trade deal, for European exportersIndian tariffs on cars, wine and machinery are coming down.
- Taking a European company to IndiaIndia is many markets. The decisions to make first.
