Minister meets agriculture to smooth Mercosur trade deal
Economic Affairs Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann wants to speed up a free trade agreement between Switzerland and the Latin American countries of Mercosur, but there is concern in the agricultural sector.
“A free trade agreement without the agricultural sector is not thinkable,” Schneider-Ammann told a press conference on Tuesday. He was speaking after a meeting with some thirty business and agricultural organizations to discuss the aspects relating to agriculture. The Swiss Farmers’ UnionExternal link (USP) declined to attend.
A trade agreement with Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, should give Swiss exporters access to this market of 260 million consumers, but the agricultural sector will have to accept some changes.
The government took this into account when it last November unveiled sensitive plans for agricultural reform, including more competition and less protectionism.
This strategy is opposed by the USP, which says the plan contains no measures to mitigate the “huge losses that farming families will suffer”. It also says that the Mercosur negotiations and agricultural reform plan are separate issues which should not be linked.
Representatives of the 27 organisations that took part in the meeting, including associations of milk, meat and cereals producers, agreed that protectionism is not an option, according to Schneider-Ammann. He said the effects of an agreement on agriculture would be limited, although he did not give a figure.
Switzerland wants an agreement with Mercosur quickly, because the European Union is close to an agreement with those countries and if it reaches a deal before Switzerland, Swiss exporters would suffer.
Despite the size of the market, Switzerland currently exports only CHF4 billion ($4.28 billion) to Mercosur countries. The free trade agreement would affect not only agriculture but export companies which currently face considerable tariffs in those countries.
First large-scale alpine solar plant approved in Switzerland
This content was published on
The approval was met with satisfaction by the project's organisers, but it also brings with it a certain amount of pressure.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
This content was published on
An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
Swiss money laundering office registers record number of reports
This content was published on
The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) registered a record number of reports of suspicious activity last year.
Two teens accused of planning terror attack released from custody
This content was published on
The Schaffhausen judiciary has released the two teenagers from custody who allegedly planned bomb attacks in Switzerland.
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
Swiss sign free-trade treaty with Georgia
This content was published on
Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, received Kvirikashvili for an official working visit on Monday. Bilateral talks focused on efforts to promote peace in the Caucasus and Switzerland’s cooperation strategy for the South Caucasus region, a longstanding priority in its development cooperation programme. The particular focus was on…
This content was published on
Swiss President Doris Leuthard has started a two-day presidential visit to India – accompanied by an unusually large 30-head business delegation.
Government unveils sensitive agricultural reform plans
This content was published on
The government has presented a paper on the gradual liberalisation of Switzerland’s agriculture market, in a bid to improve competitiveness.
This content was published on
On the first leg of a four-nation journey, Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann sought warmer relations with Moscow.
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.