Switzerland, Norway, Vietnam to sign free trade deal on Sunday, officials say

HANOI, Oct 14 (Reuters) The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam are set to sign a free trade deal on Sunday, officials said this week, after long-stalled talks were relaunched last year amid global tensions over US ​tariffs. Vietnam and the EFTA bloc, which includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, concluded ‌negotiations in July after years of talks which were first launched in 2012. In September, Vietnam said it detained three activists on suspicion of terrorism including a Norwegian national which did not affect the previously planned signing. Human rights groups said the people had been abducted in Cambodia. The deal ‌will be ​signed in Hanoi on Sunday in the presence of ⁠Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin, a ⁠spokesperson for his ministry said on Wednesday. Parmelin, who also holds Switzerland s rotating presidency, is currently on a visit to Asia. Two officials in Hanoi confirmed that the signing would occur on Sunday. In July, the EFTA said t