Special delivery: Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann eyes a shipping container representing the trade deal
Keystone
Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann and a high-ranking Chinese government delegation have celebrated the entry into force of a key free trade agreement between the two countries.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch
The accord, signed last July, improves mutual market access for goods and services, and together with a bilateral agreement on labour and employment, will contribute to long-term economic development.
The economics ministry said the deal is the most important free trade agreement for Switzerland’s export industry since the 1972 accord with the European Union.
China is the third most important trade partner for Switzerland after the EU and the US. Trade volume with China reached CHF20 billion ($22.5 billion) last year, according to a officials.
On Tuesday, the festivities took place simultaneously at the Rhine port of Basel and in Beijing.
Switzerland’s pharmaceutical, chemical and biotech industries said the deal was a crucial step to improve the competitive edge of Swiss companies.
However, the non-governmental Society for Threatened Peoples has protested against safeguards in the agreement for the respect of human rights. Another NGO, the Berne Declaration, staged a demonstration in Bern on Tuesday.
More
More
Will free trade help quench China’s thirst for milk?
This content was published on
A Swiss-Chinese free trade agreement is making exporting to China more attractive for Swiss milk producers, but exporters and farmers – one of whom runs two Chinese stores – say it’s harder than it seems to gain a foothold in such a huge market where uncertainty remains.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Will free trade help quench China’s thirst for milk?
This content was published on
A Swiss-Chinese free trade agreement is making exporting to China more attractive for Swiss milk producers, but exporters and farmers – one of whom runs two Chinese stores – say it’s harder than it seems to gain a foothold in such a huge market where uncertainty remains.
This content was published on
During a meeting with top business leaders in Zurich on Friday, Li said: “We have found common ground and put differences aside over the past two years.” Li added that China’s economy had to grow and adapt. Switzerland was one of the countries which could benefit from it. He said Beijing was keen to boost…
This content was published on
Doris Leuthard was speaking to journalists in Beijing after a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding which opens the way to talks on an FTA. “It is almost a historic day,“ a delighted Leuthard told them. Hu had said he was ready to accept the findings…
This content was published on
The document was initialed in Beijing on Friday in the presence of Swiss Economics Minister Doris Leuthard and the Chinese head of state Hu Jintao. A Swiss government statement said that both had approved the findings of a feasibility study for such an agreement. A joint study group found that the economies of Switzerland and…
This content was published on
On Thursday, the Senate approved the agreement 25 to three, with 11 abstentions. In December 2013, the House of Representatives passed it with a majority of more than two thirds. Supporters insisted that the agreement was very important for foreign economic policy as China is Switzerland’s third largest trading partner. In 2012, Swiss exports to China…
This content was published on
Europe continues to build trade relationships with China assuming it will open the world's most populous country to Western ways and build its middle class, but it's time to re-examine those assumptions.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.