Swiss EFTA/EU delegation wants to optimize agreement with China
Published: Saturday, Nov 23rd 2024, 15:50
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The EFTA/EU delegation of the Federal Assembly is on a working visit to China from Sunday to Saturday. The focus is on optimizing the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China, following the recent start of negotiations.
During the visit, the delegation would like to discuss the planned further development of the bilateral free trade agreement with China, which has been in place since July 1, 2014, in particular in the area of trade in goods and customs facilitation for Swiss products, as the delegation's secretariat reported on Saturday.
It is also planned to discuss strengthening the provisions on workers' rights and environmental protection with the Chinese partners. In addition, the political sensitivities in Switzerland and the democratic processes for the ratification of such an agreement are to be presented.
According to the press release, the aim of the visit is also to gain a better understanding of the situation of Swiss companies operating in China and to discuss geopolitical issues relating to Chinese economic policy in greater depth.
The program includes a courtesy visit to the Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress, Xiao Jie. There will be an exchange of views on the free trade agreement with Deputy Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen. In addition to the President of the EFTA/EU delegation, SVP National Councillor Thomas Aeschi (ZG), the trip will be attended by Central National Councillor Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (BL), FDP National Councillor Hans-Peter Portmann (ZH) and SP Councillor of States Carlo Sommaruga (GE).
With a trade volume of CHF 33 billion, China is Switzerland's third most important trading partner.
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