Multilateral cooperation | 45 EFTA The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which is composed of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, is headquartered in Geneva. The EFTA states maintain a Secretariat with about 80 staff members. The vast majority of these staff members work in the branch of the Secretariat in Brussels, which deals exclusively with EEA affairs. A second important pillar of the EFTA states consists in the EFTA relations with third countries, which are administered by the Secretariat in Geneva. Despite their relatively small size, the EFTA states as a group are not a lightweight in world trade and are therefore attractive partners. In the trade in goods, they rank 11th worldwide, and in the trade in services they even rank 7th (counting the EU as a unit). The goal of EFTA’s third country policy is to create access to foreign markets for the economic operators of the EFTA states that is as stable and free of barriers and discrimination relative to their competitors as possible – i.e. at least equal access. Liechtenstein supports this policy for good reasons and with conviction. The EFTA third country agreements – in addition to Liechtenstein’s WTO membership – constitute an important and indispensable element of the framework conditions for Liechtenstein’s manufacturing and business location. As a response to the economic and financial crisis and the associated danger of increasing protectionism, the EFTA states have dramatically increased their rhythm for expanding the network of free trade agreements in recent years and have pushed for greater geographic diversification, with a focus on Asia. On the basis of surveys of Liechtenstein businesses, Liechtenstein has been able to contribute targeted priorities in this regard. The EFTA states accord the highest priority to the most important growth markets. Liechtenstein economic operators now already have a network of a total of 23 free trade EFTA currently agreements with 27 countries worldwide (not counting the EU) at their disposal. Five offers the best platform for the conclusion of free trade agreements to prevent discrimination joint declarations on cooperation supplement this network. In the last few years, the following new, comprehensive free trade agreements have been concluded: In 2008 with Canada and Colombia, in 2009 with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Serbia and Albania, in 2010 with Ukraine and Peru, and in 2011 with Hong Kong and Montenegro. in the access to foreign markets. Among the ongoing negotiations, those begun in 2008 with India enjoy the highest priority. Other important negotiations are underway with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Central American states. The agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina should be ready for signature before the end of this year. No progress has been made in the negotiations with Algeria and Thailand, which began some time ago. Bilaterally, Switzerland is also negotiating with China. Pursuant to the Customs Treaty, a Swiss-Chinese agreement would also apply to Liechtenstein for the trade in goods. Negotiations with other potential partner states are being investigated. EFTA currently offers the only promising platform for the conclusion of bilateral and regional free trade agreements to prevent discrimination in the access to foreign markets. At the same time, EFTA constitutes an important platform for relations with the EU.