RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/373 23 April 2018 (18-2496) Page: 1/157 Trade Policy Review Body TRADE POLICY REVIEW REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT NORWAY This report, prepared for the seventh Trade Policy Review of Norway, has been drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has, as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), sought clarification from Norway on its trade policies and practices. Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to John Finn (Tel: 022/739 5081); Cato Adrian (Tel: 022/739 5469); or Denby Probst (Tel: 022/739 5847). Document WT/TPR/G/373 contains the policy statement submitted by Norway. Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Norway. This report was drafted in English. WT/TPR/S/373 • Norway - 2 - CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 7 1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................ 11 1.1 Main Features of the Economy .....................................................................................11 1.2 Recent Economic Developments ...................................................................................13 1.3 Developments in Trade and Investment ........................................................................16 1.3.1 Trends and patterns in merchandise and services trade ................................................16 1.3.2 Trends and patterns in FDI .......................................................................................20 2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES........................................................................... 23 2.1 General Framework ....................................................................................................23 2.2 Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives ........................................................................24 2.3 Trade Agreements and Arrangements ...........................................................................27 2.3.1 WTO ......................................................................................................................27 2.3.2 Regional and preferential agreements ........................................................................28 2.3.2.1 European Economic Area (EEA) ...............................................................................28 2.3.2.2 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) ..................................................................30 2.3.2.3 Bilateral FTAs .......................................................................................................30 2.3.2.4 Unilateral preferences ............................................................................................31 2.4 Investment Regime ....................................................................................................32 2.4.1 Framework agreements ............................................................................................32 2.4.2 Investment restrictions .............................................................................................32 2.4.3 Investment promotion and business environment ........................................................33 3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE ........................................................ 36 3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports ..............................................................................36 3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements .......................................................36 3.1.1.1 Trade facilitation ...................................................................................................38 3.1.1.2 Customs valuation ................................................................................................39 3.1.2 Rules of origin .........................................................................................................40 3.1.2.1 Non-preferential ...................................................................................................41 3.1.2.2 Preferential ..........................................................................................................42 3.1.2.3 Notification ..........................................................................................................43 3.1.3 Tariffs ....................................................................................................................43 3.1.3.1 Nomenclature .......................................................................................................43 3.1.3.2 Bound rates .........................................................................................................44 3.1.3.3 Applied rates ........................................................................................................45 3.1.3.4 Tariff quotas (TQs) ................................................................................................47 3.1.3.5 Duty reductions or suspensions ..............................................................................52 3.1.3.6 Preferential tariffs .................................................................................................53 3.1.4 Other charges affecting imports .................................................................................54 3.1.4.1 VAT .....................................................................................................................55 WT/TPR/S/373 • Norway - 3 - 3.1.4.2 Excise duties ........................................................................................................57 3.1.4.3 Agricultural research levy .......................................................................................59 3.1.5 Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing ............................................................60 3.1.6 Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures ................................................63 3.1.7 Other measures affecting imports ..............................................................................64 3.1.7.1 Sanctions .............................................................................................................64 3.2 Measures Directly Affecting Exports ..............................................................................64 3.2.1 Customs procedures and requirements .......................................................................64 3.2.2 Taxes, charges, and levies ........................................................................................65 3.2.3 Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing .............................................................65 3.2.3.1 Export control of defence and related products .........................................................67 3.2.4 Export support and promotion ...................................................................................68 3.2.5 Export finance, insurance, and guarantees ..................................................................69 3.2.5.1 Export credit guarantees ........................................................................................69 3.2.5.2 Short-term export-credit insurance .........................................................................70 3.2.5.3 Export credits .......................................................................................................71 3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade .......................................................................72 3.3.1 Incentives ...............................................................................................................72 3.3.2 Standards and other technical requirements ...............................................................75 3.3.2.1 Technical regulations .............................................................................................76 3.3.2.2 Standards ............................................................................................................77 3.3.2.3 WTO and technical barriers to trade ........................................................................79 3.3.3 Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements ....................................................................79 3.3.4 Competition policy and price controls .........................................................................82 3.3.4.1 Competition policy ................................................................................................82 3.3.4.2 Price controls........................................................................................................85 3.3.5 State trading, state-owned enterprises, and privatization .............................................86 3.3.6 Government procurement .........................................................................................90 3.3.7 Intellectual property rights ........................................................................................95 4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR ................................................................................... 101 4.1 Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries ............................................................................. 101 4.1.1 Agriculture ...........................................................................................................