UK-Switzerland Enhanced Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Fourth Round

Greg Hands Excerpts

Thursday 21st March 2024 Written Statements

[The Minister for Trade Policy (Greg Hands)]

The fourth round of negotiations on a UK-Switzerland enhanced free trade agreement took place in Bern, Switzerland from 4 to 8 March 2024.

We continue to work together with the Swiss towards an ambitious trade deal. Talks continue to be constructive and positive, with both countries focused on achieving a modern and comprehensive agreement with ambitious outcomes, including in areas such as services and investment, mobility, digital and the environment, which are not covered by our existing FTA. UK-Swiss services trade was worth £27.9 billion in the 12 months to September 2023.

Negotiations are now focused on text-based discussions, and we have seen progress across many areas. This round, we provisionally closed the chapter on small and medium enterprises. This will help UK SMEs expand their operations more easily into the Swiss market.

We look forward to future further discussions between the UK and Switzerland to deliver our desired outcomes for the FTA. It is especially important for the UK that we achieve mobility outcomes, which are a top priority for business stakeholders on both sides and underpin any services and investment market access achieved in the FTA.

The fifth hybrid round of negotiations is expected to take place in the UK in early summer 2024.

The Government remain clear that any deal we sign, including that with Switzerland, will be in the best interests of the British people and the UK economy. We will not compromise on our high environmental and labour protections, public health, animal welfare and food standards, and we will maintain our right to regulate in the public interest.

We are also clear that during these negotiations, the NHS, and the services it provides are not on the table.

His Majesty’s Government will continue to work closely with Switzerland to ensure negotiations proceed at pace and take place on terms that are right for the UK. We will continue to keep Parliament updated as these negotiations progress.

[HCWS359]