When the original six member states founded the EU (then called the European Economic Community) in 1958, the UK instead set up the European Free Trade Area (Efta).

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In particular, it would require local authorities to make information about the proportion of recycled materials that is processed outside the European Community and European Free Trade Area (EFTA) publicly available.

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New Zealand and the European Free Trade Area - Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland - are already on board, and others with Australia, Canada, Mexico and the US are under negotiation, while overtures have been made to the European Union and India.

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The idea of a bilateral trade deal between America and the European Union has been around at least since the Europeans unsuccessfully touted a transatlantic free-trade area five years ago.

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