The trade agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK) came into force on January 1, 2021. The responsible Joint Committee held its constituent meeting on June 8, 2021. Central issues for trade relations with the United Kingdom such as the cumulation of origin and the further development of the agreement were discussed.
On June 8, 2021, the mixed committee of the free trade agreement incorporated into the Switzerland-UK trade agreement met for its first meeting. One of its tasks is to ensure that the trade agreement works properly. At this meeting, which was held by video conference, the Joint Committee adopted its own rules of procedure. This regulates future cooperation.
Change of the rules of origin
At the meeting of the Joint Committee, Switzerland and the UK agreed to include the revised rules of the Regional Agreement on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin (PEM Agreement) in the trade agreement. Subject to the necessary approval processes, this change is to be applied provisionally as of September 1, 2021 and then submitted to parliament. In a joint declaration on the rules of origin dated February 11, 2019, Switzerland and the United Kingdom agreed to take into account the results of the revision process of the PEM Convention. Thanks to this change in the agreement, companies will benefit from more modern rules of origin in trade between Switzerland and the UK.
In view of the change in the rules of origin of the Switzerland-UK trade agreement planned for September 1, 2021, the accumulation with input materials from the EU and Turkey will be possible again from June 9, 2021.
Further development of trade relations
Both sides confirmed their interest in further developing trade relations. This is also provided for in the revision clause of the Switzerland-UK trade agreement. To this end, the Joint Committee defined the further course of action with a view to starting discussions on the mutual interests and the objectives pursued.
The mixed committee met under the chairmanship of Switzerland. The head of the Swiss delegation was Ambassador Thomas A. Zimmermann, Federal Council delegate for commercial contracts at SECO.
Address for queries:
Antje Baertschi, Head of Communication and Media Spokesperson SECO, Tel. +41 58 463 52 75
Editor:
Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research
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