EFTA – Singapore Free Trade Agreement (ESFTA)

About this agreement

The EFTA – Singapore Free Trade Agreement (ESFTA) eliminates 99.8% of tariffs for Singapore’s exports to EFTA markets, which include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It allows tariff preference based on the exporter's declaration, safeguards market access and ensures a more predictable operating environment for service suppliers.

1 January 2003

Entry into force

Key benefits

Back-to-back shipment of goods within member countries
Goods that are brought into Singapore from ASEAN countries or Korea and re-exported within these countries, without any processing in Singapore, can enjoy tariff concessions. Originating products passing through Parties can also retain their originating status.
Third-party invoicing of goods
Customs authorities in the importing country may accept a Certificate of Origin when the sales invoice is issued from a different country or a different company exporting the originating goods in various sectors, provided that the goods meet the necessary requirement. This invoice can come from countries that are not Parties to AKFTA.
ASEAN Cumulation
Originating raw materials sourced from other ASEAN countries and Korea can be considered when assessing the origin criteria of the final product manufactured in Singapore. This will make it easier for Singapore exporters’ products to meet the criteria for preferential treatment.
Safeguards market access
Ensures a more predictable operating environment for service suppliers through creating a more transparent, facilitative and secure environment for investors. Investors can look forward to fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security of covered investments; transfers of funds relating to covered investments; and compensation in the event of nationalisation or expropriation of covered investment.

Eligibility

Use the Tariff Finder to see if your product is eligible to enjoy this FTA's tariff concessions.

Access the Tariff Finder

Alternatively, you can explore the following steps to check your eligibility.

Your product’s preferential rate
Products from Chapter HS 25-97 are duty-free

Tariff concessions for products from Chapter 1-24

Products not awarded tariff concessions

Your product’s rule of origin

Rules of origin are a set of criteria which determine a product's originating status in each respective FTA.

It is put in place to ensure that only goods originating from the FTA partner countries will benefit from tariff concessions.


Is your product obtained/produced entirely within Singapore?		Your product is considered wholly obtained in Singapore

The Product Specific Rules applies Learn more



Is your product obtained/produced entirely within Singapore?

	Your product is considered wholly obtained in Singapore

The Product Specific Rules applies Learn more

Apply

The ESFTA only requires the importer, exporter or manufacturer to make a declaration of the originating status of the product. To obtain preferential tariff treatment in another Party, a proof of origin in the form of an origin declaration shall be completed by an exporter of a Party for products that can be considered to be originating in a Party and which fulfil the other requirement.