Switzerland hopes to seal updated trade deal with China early next year

Switzerland Aims to Finalize Updated Trade Agreement with China Soon

Switzerland's Trade Negotiations with China

ZURICH (Reuters) -Switzerland hopes to seal an updated free trade agreement with China in early 2026, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Friday, following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Current Status of Discussions

"We are pleased that the discussions on modernising (our free trade agreement) are proceeding constructively, and we both hope to be able to complete this work soon," Cassis told reporters after the pair met in Bellinzona.

Expected Timeline for Completion

"We will probably not achieve this by the end of this year as we had hoped, but we are counting on the beginning of next year for a more open, fair trade based on international free trade rules.” Cassis added.

Challenges Ahead

(Reporting by Emma Farge and John Revill; Editing by Sharon Singleton)