Switzerland wants to kick-start negotiations for a free trade agreement with the United States at this month’s World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting. Efforts to revive an FTA, following the collapse of a previous attempt in 2006, have so far made slow progress.
Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer, who holds this year’s rotating presidency, said DavosExternal link could be an ideal springboard to get fresh negotiations properly started. Maurer is due to meet US President Donald Trump at the summit which runs from January 22-25.
“The meeting is confirmed,” he told television station Tele Züri on Sunday. “We are trying to get the free trade agreement on track.”
Food and metal
Agriculture will likely be a key theme for the meeting. Though Swiss farmers have historically been wary of a trade deal with the US, they would also stand to gain from it, Edward McMullen, US Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, told swissinfo.ch in a recent interview.
“Swiss farmers could make a lot more money selling to the US than they do now,” pointed out McMullen, citing a new US appetite for Swiss products such as cheese and wine.
Former Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann first mooted the idea of reviving FTA talks between the two countries in September. But an initial meeting in December yielded little joy as the US chief negotiator was tied up with more pressing issues.
Schneider-Ammann was replaced by Guy Parmelin, a professional winegrower, at the beginning of this year. McMullen told swissinfo.ch last month that renewed negotiations stood a good chance of producing positive results.
Also in December, the Swiss parliament voiced its support for a trade deal, with Switzerland’s Senate calling on the Federal Council to “seek a free trade agreement or at least a preferential trade agreement with the USA”.
More
More
‘Swiss farmers could make a lot more money selling to the US’
This content was published on
The American ambassador to Switzerland believes the agricultural sector has evolved to make room for a potential US-Swiss free trade deal.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
This content was published on
Emergency crews contained the oil and began removing some of the pollution from the water’s surface, said the St Gallen cantonal police on Sunday.
Switzerland lifts sanctions on Syria after Assad’s fall
This content was published on
Switzerland is lifting economic sanctions on Syria, but targeted measures against figures linked to the former regime remain in place.
Thousands march in Bern calling for Gaza ceasefire
This content was published on
More than 10,000 people – or up to 20,000, according to organisers – marched through central Bern on Saturday afternoon in support for Gaza.
Zurich Pride draws large crowds amid financial strain
This content was published on
Following US President Donald Trump’s attacks on diversity initiatives, Zurich Pride fears more sponsors could pull out and is now facing financial difficulties.
Switzerland ‘deeply alarmed’ by Middle East escalation
This content was published on
Switzerland has voiced serious concern over rising tensions in the Middle East, and the UN chief says he is ‘alarmed’ by US strikes on Iran.
Switzerland among world’s most expensive for household electricity
This content was published on
According to a study by the comparison site Verivox, based on data from Global Petrol Prices, Switzerland came in tenth out of 143 countries.
Global uncertainty boosts Swiss-EU talks, says Cassis
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis says Switzerland’s talks with the European Union (EU) have been boosted by the current difficult global situation.
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
Chances good for a Swiss-US free trade deal
This content was published on
Switzerland and the United States have signed a new accord on vocational education; a possible free trade agreement is also in the works.
Swiss want to restart free trade deal talks with the US
This content was published on
Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann believes that it is possible to negotiate a free trade agreement with the US.
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.