Switzerland - China Switzerland negotiates optimization of free trade agreement with China

On Monday, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin launched negotiations to optimize the free trade agreement with China. The Minister of Economic Affairs met virtually with the Chinese Minister of Commerce, as can be seen in a post on X.

According to Parmelin, Switzerland's aim in the negotiations is to improve the framework conditions for Swiss companies on the Chinese market.

Specifically, the aim is to extend customs concessions for Swiss products. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) also announced in response to an inquiry that the customs treatment of products that still face high hurdles after the dismantling of customs duties has been completed should be improved. In the industrial sector, these are pharmaceutical products, plastics, optical devices, machinery, watches and chemicals.

Mutual market access conditions for investments are also to be improved and existing provisions on the environment and labor standards strengthened.