Norway is increasingly suffering by staying out of the EU as Donald Trump’s tariff wars and Brexit make trade policy more important, the country’s foreign minister and his main rival said ahead of Monday’s parliamentary election.
Norway is part of the EU’s single market through its membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) but is not part of the bloc’s trade policy or customs union after twice voting No to joining in referendums.
“We are acutely aware that the delta between EU membership and EEA membership is increasing,” said Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s foreign minister. His centre-left Labour party is the slight favourite ahead of the vote but polls remain too close to call.