英国和瑞士举行第八轮自贸协定升级谈判

Core Points - The eighth round of the UK-Switzerland free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations took place from October 20 to 24, 2023, in Switzerland, reaching an agreement on the competition chapter [1] - Switzerland ranks as the UK's tenth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade expected to exceed £45 billion in 2024 [1] - UK service exports to Switzerland are over £18 billion, making Switzerland the UK's sixth largest service export market [1] Trade Agreement Details - The core focus of the upgraded FTA is on service trade, with trade in financial, consulting, legal, and transportation sectors amounting to approximately £28 billion [1] - In 2020, the bilateral service trade created around 130,000 jobs in the UK [1] - The UK government believes that the upgraded FTA will promote economic growth, support UK businesses, create job opportunities, and enhance the welfare of UK citizens [1] Future Negotiations - The ninth round of negotiations is expected to take place in early 2026 in the UK [1]