Earlier this month (14th – 18th October) London played host to the fifth round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement between the UK and Switzerland. This was the first time the Labour Government have held talks with their Swiss counterparts in an attempt to create a modern enhanced FTA.
The latest round of negotiations included discussions on:
Services, Investment and Digital
Intellectual Property
Government Procurement
Innovation
Goods, Trade Facilitation and Regulatory Environment
An appetite for an improved FTA is strong when you consider that in 2023, trade between the UK and Switzerland was worth £50.8bn. It is hoped that a stronger trade relationship will build on the existing relationship and provide certainty to UK businesses who travel to Switzerland as well as helping data flow seamlessly between the two countries.
Round Six of negotiations are expected to take place in Switzerland in early 2025.
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