HANSARD
Enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Switzerland: Round 9 Negotiations
- The ninth round of negotiations on an enhanced free trade agreement (FTA) with Switzerland took place in London between 12 and 16 January 2026.The new deal aims to support British businesses, back British jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets.The enhanced agreement with Switzerland demonstrates the UK Government commitment to economic growth through strengthening trade ties with our 10th biggest trading partner—a relationship worth £49.0 billion in the 12 months ending September 2025 (ONS, UK total trade, seasonally adjusted).The FTA aims to deliver long-term certainty for UK services firms by locking in access to the Swiss market, guaranteeing the free flow of data and cementing business travel arrangements.The trading relationship supported 130,000 services jobs across the UK in 2020, including legal, consultancy and finance sectors (OECD trade in employment database and covers all jobs directly and indirectly supported by exports from service industries to Switzerland in 2020).The new agreement will update the current goods-focused UK-Swiss FTA, signed in 2019 and largely based on an EU-Swiss deal from 1972. This does not cover services, investment, digital or data, despite services accounting for over 60% of UK trade with Switzerland (ONS, UK total trade, seasonally adjusted).We have already extended the services mobility agreement between the UK and Switzerland for a further four years to 2029.The latest round saw progress in multiple areas:Services and investmentProductive sessions took place on services and investment. Talks remain focused on market access for UK services exports.Market distorting practicesGood progress was made during this round on a range of topics relating to state-owned enterprises and subsidies.DigitalProgress was made on digital trade with the UK seeking commitments to guarantee the free flow of data across both countries.Intellectual propertyDuring this round, the UK and Switzerland discussed intellectual property rights areas. Negotiations will continue with the aim of agreeing a comprehensive framework for the protection of intellectual property.GoodsDiscussions continue to focus on goods market access and on the goods chapter text, which will help streamline the process for UK exports to Switzerland and bilateral trade in goods.Environment and labour