Switzerland and the UK have concluded negotiations on a modernised free trade agreement, expanding bilateral rules on services, investment, digital trade and market access while retaining existing preferential arrangements for trade in goods.
Switzerland and the United Kingdom have concluded negotiations on a modernised free trade agreement, Swiss President Guy Parmelin and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle announced during a meeting in Bern on 13 July.
The negotiations, which began in 2023, were launched to modernise bilateral free trade relations. They build on the earlier Mind the Gap strategy, which preserved trade relations following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
According to the Swiss government, the new agreement extends beyond maintaining existing arrangements by establishing a broader and more modern framework for bilateral economic relations.
The agreement preserves existing preferential arrangements for trade in goods while introducing targeted improvements to market access. It also expands and modernises the bilateral legal framework in areas including trade in services, investment, the mobility of service providers and digital trade.
In addition, the agreement contains provisions covering financial services, telecommunications, public procurement, intellectual property, trade and sustainable development, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The Swiss government said the agreement goes beyond previous bilateral arrangements in several areas and is intended to strengthen legal certainty for businesses in both countries.
The government also said the agreement carries geopolitical significance, noting that amid increasing fragmentation and uncertainty in global trade policy, Switzerland and the UK are reinforcing their strategic partnership and reaffirming their commitment to open markets, reliable rules and close economic cooperation. It added that the agreement is expected to contribute to the diversification and resilience of bilateral economic relations.
Following completion of the remaining legal formalities, Switzerland and the UK will prepare the agreement for signature. The two countries aim to sign the agreement by the end of 2026, after which it will be subject to the required domestic approval procedures.
