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British Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch is in Bern today. The most important answers to the visit from London.
Why is? Federal Councilor and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin receives a visit from Great Britain. Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch travels to Bern on Monday. The two want to negotiate a bilateral agreement together.
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Kemi Badenoch outside Downing Street in London.
AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Why is there a need for negotiations? The last such agreement between Switzerland and Great Britain is only two years old. Now, after Brexit, they simply want to adapt the existing rules from EU times to the new relationship, says SRF business editor Klaus Ammann. “The rules in and of themselves are old,” he continues.
Where exactly are there adjustments? On the one hand, there are tariffs. For example, London wants Switzerland to abolish this on British chocolate. On the other hand, it is primarily about the service sector. Short stays for business purposes in the other country should be made easier.
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Guy Parmelin receives a visit from London.
KEYSTONE/Anthony Anex
It’s about mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and above all about the countries mutually recognizing the rules on the respective financial market. “Basically, both sides are very interested in being able to exchange services more easily, especially in the financial sector,” explains Ammann.
How important are the two countries for each other? The United Kingdom is Switzerland’s fourth most important trading partner. Conversely, Switzerland is the tenth most important country for Great Britain. “Although bilateral trade in goods has stagnated in recent years, trade in services has increased slightly,” says Ammann.
What influence does the EU non-membership of the two countries have on the negotiations? Both countries are increasingly feeling that they are not part of the EU, said Ammann. “For Great Britain in particular, it is a question of restoring the international confidence of investors and business partners through agreements with other partners,” he explains. The trust was destroyed with the “sometimes erratic politics” after Brexit.
But Switzerland also has a great interest in relations with Great Britain that are as problem-free and barrier-free as possible, says Ammann: “Especially in view of the fact that its own relationship with the EU is still unclear or has not been further developed.”