Switzerland and China Expand Free Trade Agreement
On 20 August 2026, Switzerland and China announced the expansion of their existing free‑trade agreement, extending tariff‑free treatment to 99.8% of Switzerland’s current exports to China after agreed phase‑out periods. The previous 2014 agreement had allowed just over half of Swiss exports to enter China duty‑free, while Chinese imports into Switzerland were already almost entirely tariff‑free.
The negotiations, which began in 2024 and concluded after five rounds, were finalized in Bern by Swiss Federal President and Minister for Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. The expanded pact also secures better market access for Swiss investors, and strengthens provisions on environmental issues and labour rights.
Beyond goods, the agreement now covers rules of origin, trade facilitation, trade in services, digital trade, competition, and economic and technical cooperation between the two countries. The parties intend to sign the finalized text before the end of 2026.
China remains Switzerland’s third‑largest trading partner after the European Union and the United States, making the tariff removal a significant step in deepening economic ties between Europe and Asia.