Switzerland - China Criticism of the mandate for a new free trade agreement with China is being voiced
The responsible National Council committee welcomes the Federal Council's approach to the negotiating mandate for a new free trade agreement with China. Binding regulations on the protection of human rights should not be part of the negotiations, which infuriates the left.
27.08.2024, 17:59
SDA
The Federal Council wants to modernize the free trade agreement with China, which has been in force since 2014. There is talk of improved market access for the movement of goods and for Swiss service providers - including financial institutions - as well as simpler customs processes.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council (FAC-N) supported the negotiating mandate in an overall assessment by 14 votes to 8 with 2 abstentions, as reported by the parliamentary services on Tuesday. At the same time, it called on the Federal Council to address the risks of dependence on critical and strategic raw materials and to include the situation of Tibetans in Switzerland in the negotiations.
However, the APK-N narrowly rejected the idea of negotiating binding rules on the protection of human rights and the environment in the new free trade agreement. The SP and the Greens sharply criticized this in press releases issued on Tuesday. The Greens have already threatened a referendum against the bill.
