Switzerland-EU Free Trade Agreement: Joint Committee meets in Lucerne
Bern, 30.11.2012 - The 58th meeting of the Joint Committee set up by the Free Trade Agreement between Switzerland and the EU took place today in Lucerne under the Chair-manship of Switzerland. The year 2012 is a benchmark year as it marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement. The Committee noted that, on the whole, the Agreement has functioned well, and continues to serve as an im-portant instrument in facilitating trade between Switzerland and the EU.
The Free Trade Agreement concluded between Switzerland and the EU in 1972 for a liberal-isation in the trade of industrial products, also governs, by virtue of its Protocol n° 2, the commercial exchange of processed agricultural products. The Joint Committee manages this Agreement and ensures that it functions properly.
The two delegations highlighted the importance of the Free Trade Agreement within the scope of bilateral economic relations. In 2011, commercial exchange between Switzerland and the European Union reached a volume of approx. CHF 262 billion, i.e., an increase in the order of 7.6% in relation to 2009. The EU remains Switzerland’s principal economic partner, absorbing a 57% share of total Swiss exports and representing a share of 78% of its total imports. For its part, Switzerland is the 2nd ranking economic partner of the EU seen in terms of trade in goods, services, and investment.
This year, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement, the Joint Committee held its meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland. On this occasion, the Head of the Swiss delegation did not fail to point out the importance with which the Agreement is vested: “The Free Trade Agreement represents a key pillar of our bilateral relations and continues to make a significant contribution to our common prosperity”.
The Joint Committee delved into a number of issues pertaining to the respective market ac-cess of the parties. Switzerland mentioned the problems that it is having with several of the measures instituted by Italy which continue to obstruct market access for Swiss companies. Namely, it pointed out the obligations that Italian businesses dealing with Swiss companies were under to provide information and supporting documents to the Italian fiscal authorities (conditions imposed by Italian decrees); the granting of subsidies with respect to solar panels, a measure which has proved discriminatory towards Swiss manufacturers; and the obligation imposed on the Swiss to submit any semi-manufactured metallic products being exported to Italy to a radiometric control. Discussions will continue with a view to resolving these issues. Switzerland also expressed it regret as to the upcoming renewal of EU surveillance measures applied to the import of certain steel products coming from third-party states, a measure which places Swiss producers active in this sector at a disadvantage.
The two delegations then went on to discuss various developments relating to the customs sector. In particular, the parties welcomed the entry into force of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin. As soon as a decision of the Joint Com-mittee entailing a modification in Protocol N° 3 to the Agreement on Rules of Origin has been adopted, this Convention will make it possible to extend to the countries of the West Balkans, the preferential space of the Rules of Origin already existing between the EU, EFTA, the trade partners of the Mediterranean, and Turkey.
Lastly, the Joint Committee engaged in an exchange of views on their respective policies of free trade with third-party States. Switzerland and the EU shared with each other their expe-rience in this domain and reiterated the importance of enjoying stable and non-discriminatory conditions of access to the principal foreign markets, as such access constitutes a guarantee for their economic prosperity.
The meeting was presided over by the Head of the Swiss delegation, Ambassador Christian Etter, Swiss Federal Council Delegate for Trade Agreements. The Head of the EU delegation was Ignacio Garcia Bercero, Director for Neighbouring Counties, USA and Canada at the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade.
The next meeting of the Joint Committee on the Free Trade Agreement will take place in late 2013.
Address for enquiries
Kathrin Naegeli, Information Integration Office FDFA/FDEA, +41 31 322 26 40
Publisher
Integration Office FDFA/FDEA (IO) - as of 1.1.2013 in the FDFA
http://www.europa.admin.ch
Integration Office DFA/DEA (IO) - as of 1.1.2013 in the FDFA
http://www.europa.admin.ch
