Update following round 5 of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Switzerland
30 October 2024
The 5th round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and Switzerland took place from 24-28 October in Bern. The UK delegation was led by the Department for International Trade’s Director General for Trade and Investment, and the Swiss delegation was led by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
The negotiations covered a wide range of issues, including:
- Trade in goods
- Trade in services
- Investment
- Intellectual property
- Competition
- Public procurement
- Trade and sustainable development
- Dispute settlement
Both sides made progress on a number of issues, including:
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on trade in goods, which includes provisions on tariffs, rules of origin, and technical barriers to trade.
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on trade in services, which includes provisions on market access, national treatment, and most-favoured-nation treatment.
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on investment, which includes provisions on protection from expropriation, fair and equitable treatment, and dispute settlement.
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on intellectual property, which includes provisions on copyright, trademarks, patents, and designs.
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on competition, which includes provisions on anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, and merger control.
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on public procurement, which includes provisions on transparency, non-discrimination, and fair competition.
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on trade and sustainable development, which includes provisions on labour rights, environmental protection, and climate change.
- Agreement on the text of the chapter on dispute settlement, which includes provisions on consultation, mediation, and arbitration.
The two sides also discussed a number of other issues, including:
- The potential for an enhanced FTA to include provisions on digital trade, data protection, and financial services.
- The possibility of a separate agreement on mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
- The possibility of a joint declaration on climate change.
The UK and Switzerland have agreed to hold the 6th round of negotiations in London in December 2024.
The UK and Switzerland are committed to working together to conclude an enhanced FTA that will benefit both countries.
Update following round 5 of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Switzerland
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