Switzerland wants to promote FTA negotiations with Vietnam

During the annual meeting, organized by the Association of Foreign Journalists in Switzerland and Liechtenstein (APES) in the capital Bern, on November 3, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter mentioned the prominent issues in this country in recent times, including the relationship with the European Union (EU), US tariffs or the country's policy towards the Middle East region.

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter. Photo: REUTERS/TTXVN

According to a VNA correspondent in Switzerland, opening her speech, Ms. Karin Keller-Sutter warned of increasing global instability and current challenges to multilateral systems. She emphasized: “The political and economic situation is very unstable and this is a topic raised in many discussions. It can be said that free trade and multilateralism are being seriously tested. Switzerland is not a member of any major political or trade bloc, but Bern always attaches importance to maintaining close relations with the EU - Switzerland's largest trading partner. The consultation period on a new package of agreements with the EU has ended and the government will evaluate the responses before submitting the documents to Parliament. A popular vote could take place in 2027.”

Switzerland is boosting exports by targeting new markets, President Karin Keller-Sutter said. She noted that Bern is working to conclude new free trade agreements and modernize existing ones. This year alone, Switzerland has signed new agreements with Thailand, Malaysia and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and updated its trade agreement with Ukraine. In addition, Switzerland's existing free trade agreements with China, the UK, Mexico and the Southern African Customs Union are being updated.

At the meeting, answering a VNA reporter in Switzerland about the expectation of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member countries (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and Vietnam, President Karin Keller-Sutter shared: “I had a discussion with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh earlier this year in Davos. Our wish and expectation is to speed up the negotiation process. Everything is progressing and I believe that an agreement will bring benefits to the participating parties. I see a trend of promoting free trade agreements. For Switzerland in particular or the EFTA bloc in general, such documents play an important role.”

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/thuy-si-mong-muon-thuc-day-dam-phan-fta-voi-viet-nam-20251104074954004.htm