6th Round of UK-Switzerland Trade Talks

Earlier this month (3rd-10th March), UK delegates travelled to Switzerland to host the sixth round of talks on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement.  

The UK’s focus remains on creating an ambitious agreement on areas including services, investment and digital trade which the current FTA does not cover.  Within these areas, it is hoped that this enhanced agreement will guarantee market access for UK services suppliers, facilitate the flow of data and provide certainty on business travel.   

Despite no services chapter within the current FTA, relationships between the UK and Switzerland already support 130,000 service jobs and more than £17billion in services exports.  

During the latest round of negotiations, it was stated that “good progress was made in financial services...with both sides focussed on agreeing the most comprehensive chapter either country has signed”.  

The next round of negotiations is expected to take place in the UK during the beginning of the summer.