Describes bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that this country is party to, including with the United States. Includes websites and other resources where U.S. companies can get more information on how to take advantage of these agreements.
Last Published: 7/26/2019
Montenegro signed the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in July 2007, along with Albania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Montenegro also signed a free trade agreement with Turkey in 2008 that has been in force since March 2010. Montenegro had a free trade agreement with Russia, although that agreement is currently not in force and is being renegotiated. As part of its negotiations with Russia, Montenegro is working on free trade agreements with Kazakhstan and Belarus, which formed a customs union together with Russia.  A free trade agreement between Montenegro and Ukraine was signed in November 2011.

A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) was signed in November 2011.  Although the four EFTA countries are small, they are the world leaders in several sectors vital to the global economy.  Liechtenstein and Switzerland are internationally renowned financial centers and hosts to major companies and multinationals, while Iceland and Norway have highly developed fish production, metal production, and maritime transport sectors.
Montenegro has not signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with the United States. 

The United States restored Normal Trade Relations (Most-Favored Nation status) to Montenegro in December 2003.  This status provides improved access to the U.S. market for goods exported from Montenegro.  Montenegro has also been designated as a beneficiary developing country under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which provides duty-free access to the U.S. market in various eligible categories, including jewelry, ores, stones, and various agricultural products.  The GSP program expired on December 31, 2017, however, on March 23, 2018, President Trump signed the legislation reauthorizing the GSP program through December 31, 2020.   GSP-eligible products may enter the United States duty-free on and after April 22, 2018.  Because the GSP program’s reauthorization is retroactive, importers may seek refunds of duties paid during the lapse of GSP authorization. 
(http://www.mek.gov.me/en/WTO/LIBRARY/free_trade?alphabet=lat)
 
    Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


    More Information

    Montenegro Trade Development and Promotion Trade Agreements