Free trade agreement between Switzerland and China to enter into force on 1 July 2014

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

Bern, 30.04.2014 - The internal approval procedures for the free trade agreement between Switzerland and the People's Republic of China have been completed, paving the way for the agreement to enter into force on 1 July. The comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement was signed by Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann and the Chinese trade minister on 6 July last year.

The free trade agreement improves mutual access to markets for goods and services, strengthens legal certainty with regard to protecting intellectual property and bilateral economic exchanges in general. The agreement will also remove customs duties in most areas of bilateral trade, either in full or in part; transitional periods will apply in some cases.

The bilateral agreement on labour and employment matters, which was concluded at the same time as the free trade agreement, will enter into force on 9 June.

---

Address for enquiries

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Holzikofenweg 36
CH-3003 Bern
Tel. +41 58 462 56 56
medien@seco.admin.ch

---

Publisher

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch