Trade Policy Department
The department consists of the following sections
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Section for Trade Agreements
Section for Trade Agreements heads and coordinates negotiations and revisions of Norway's bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), including those negotiated together with partner countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). In these processes, the section also undertakes the main responsibility for negotiations on trade in goods, technical barriers to trade (TBT), services and investments, and trade and sustainable development. The section is responsible for agreements on investment promotion and protection. The Section also undertakes responsibility for the Ministry's work related to trade and investment in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
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Section for Export Credits
The section for export credits is responsible for the officially supported export credits system in Norway. Export Finance Norway (Eksportfinansiering Norge - Eksfin) provides loans and guarantees to promote exports. The section is also responsible for the remaining portfolio of loans from Eksportfinans ASA, who provided export loans until 2011. The section participates in developing international rules on export credits in the export credit groups in the OECD. Furthermore, the section is responsible for the Norwegian ownership in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
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Section for International Trade Promotion
Section for international trade promotion works to promote trade and Norwegian investments abroad. The section has the overall responsibility for bilateral economic commissions, for the profiling of Norwegian industry in the global market, including participation in world exhibitions, seafood exports and ownership of the Norwegian Seafood Council. Other tasks include assistance to Norwegian companies abroad, bilateral industrial cooperation in defence material procurement and coordination and allocation of financial support for business promotion projects at Norwegian Foreign Service Missions. The section is also responsible for Innovation Norway's instruments for internationalization, for coordinating the "Team Norway" cooperation, as well as the Ministry's work related to corporate social responsibility. The section also participates in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council's working group on economic cooperation. Furthermore, the section is responsible for preparing international visits of the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Minister of Fisheries, as well as facilitating business delegations accompanying state visits and official visits.
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Section for Trade in Seafood and WTO
The section is responsible for issues regarding trade in seafood, both on a bilateral and multilateral level (EU, WTO, FAO). The responsibility includes matters concerning tariffs, technical and veterinary requirements and other documentation requirements, including sustainability requirements for seafood entering international trade. The section is also responsible for the overall coordination of WTO-related work in the Ministry and participates in relevant WTO committees. The responsibility includes market access provisions, trade remedies and the dispute settlement mechanism in the WTO.
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Section for Europe and Single Market
The Europe and Single Market section is responsible for following up single market legislation at the national level, in EFTA and the EU. The section has responsibility for Nordic cooperation and bilateral, economical relations with EFTA and EU states. The section is the Norwegian SOLVIT and IMI centre.