China-switzerland Free Trade Agreements
On April 29, both China and Switzerland exchanged views on the “China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement” in Beijing. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Agreement’s entry into force, the Agreement will enter into force on 1 July 2014.
China and Switzerland launched the “Agreement” negotiations in January 2011. In May 2013, during Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Switzerland, China and Switzerland signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the completion of the Sino-Swiss FTA negotiations.
In July 2013, Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng and the Swiss Federal Councilor and Minister of Economy Schneider – Oman signed the Agreement on behalf of the two governments in Beijing.
(Hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”).
“Agreement” is one of the highest and most comprehensive FTA agreements in China in recent years. It not only has a high proportion of zero tariffs in goods trade, but also has a good mechanism for cooperation between the clock and other fields, and involves environmental and intellectual property rights And many other new rules will further enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation level, deepen Sino-EU economic and trade cooperation.
The Agreement is the first package of FTA signed between China and the European continent. It is a high-quality, content-rich, mutually beneficial agreement.
The realization and implementation of the Agreement embodies the determination and confidence of the two sides to strengthen economic and trade relations, which reflects the determination and confidence of the Chinese government to unswervingly open and open up. It also reflects China’s active participation in economic globalization and regional economic integration. Determination and confidence.
The Chinese government will speed up the implementation of the FTA strategy and participate in international competition and cooperation in a more open position with the opportunity to implement and implement the Sino-Swiss FTA.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main contents of the Agreement?
The Agreement is rich in content. There are 16 chapters of the Agreement, including preamble, general principles, trade in goods, rules of origin and procedures, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedies, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade in services, investment promotion, competition Policy, intellectual property protection, environmental issues, economic and technical cooperation, institutional provisions, dispute settlement and final clauses.
In addition, the Agreement also includes 11 Annexes for the Trade Tariff Schedule, the Product Specific Rules of Origin, the Certificate of Origin, the Textiles Labeling, and the Specific Commitment Form for Trade in Services.
What is the difference between the Agreement and China's trade agreements with other countries and regions?
The “Agreement” is one of the highest and most comprehensive FTA agreements in China in recent years. It has the following characteristics:
"Agreement" for the cooperation between the two sides to establish a good mechanism.
For example, the two sides agreed to strengthen environmental cooperation to enhance the level of environmental protection.
The two sides agreed to set up a working group on watches and clocks in the framework of the Sino-Swiss Economic and Trade Commission. Through the cooperation of watches and clocks, the Chinese side will expand the introduction of advanced Swiss watch detection and maintenance technology, cooperate with the Swiss side to develop watch professionals to enhance the development of China’s watch industry Level.
The two sides pledged to carry out dialogue on Chinese medicine cooperation, promote Chinese medicine “overseas investment”, and so on. The above cooperation mechanism is conducive to promoting the two sides to carry out pragmatic cooperation and achieve common development.
The Agreement deals with many new rules.
China and Switzerland in the “Agreement”, the government procurement, the environment, labor and employment cooperation, intellectual property, competition and other Chinese past free trade negotiations rarely meet the rules of the agreement.
There is no uniform standard for these rules in the world, but the two sides do not avoid, but according to the principle of seeking common ground, reached a lot of consensus.
For example, for the first time, China has agreed to set up a separate chapter on environmental issues in the FTA and clearly define the specific rights and obligations of intellectual property protection and enhance the transparency and convenience of the protection of rights holders.
FTA signing date and Tax rate
- China – Mauritius
- China – Maldives
- China – Georgia
- China – Australia
- China – South Korea
- China – Switzerland
- China – Iceland
- China – Costa Rica
- China – Peru
- China – Singapore
- China – New Zealand
- China – Chile
- China – Pakistan
- China – ASEAN
- China – Hong Kong – Macau
FTA process of negotiating
- China – GCC
- China – Japan and South Korea
- China – Sri Lanka
- China – Israel
- China – Norway
- China – Pakistan
- China – Singapore High grade
- China – New Zealand High grade
- China – Chile High grade
- China – Moldova
- China – Panama
- China – Cambodia
