Trade Council committees support Federal Council in customs negotiations with USA
The Federal Council receives Parliament's backing for the planned negotiations with the USA. After the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council, the sister committee of the Council of States also approved the negotiating mandate on Tuesday.
16.12.2025, 15:44
SDA
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of States (FAC-S) approved the mandate on Tuesday after an in-depth discussion by 10 votes to 0 with two abstentions, as FAC-S President Carlo Sommaruga (SP/GE) told the media in Bern.
There had been numerous questions about the draft mandate, Sommaruga said. Economics Minister Guy Parmelin and State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda had answered most of them satisfactorily.
Sommaruga and APK-S Vice-President Petra Gössi (FDP/SZ) did not reveal whether the APK-S is demanding adjustments to the draft mandate and what these are. Details would weaken Switzerland's negotiating position, said Sommaruga.
