The Ministry of Industry & Trade announced that on June 6th, Israel and Bulgaria signed a free trade agreement, one which is scheduled to go into effect within a few months. According to Bi-Weekly Economic Update, the accord is only the most recent of number of free trade accords Israel has signed with central European countries in an effort to help Israel comply with EU rules on the origin of goods. The agreement will allow Israeli products that have been partly produced in Bulgaria, or that incorporate Bulgarian-made parts, to be sold within the EU at reduced tariff rates. The agreement also gradually reduces or even eliminates duties and customs on Israeli goods exported to Bulgaria. These changes will take effect according to an agreed upon schedule.