Free Trade Agreement U.S. and Switzerland Exploratory Talks

Bern, June 10, 2005 - At its session today, the Federal Council (executive branch) instructed the Federal Department of Economic Affairs to start exploratory talks with the USA on a free trade agreement

Promoting closer ties between Switzerland and the USA fits in well with the orientation of the Federal Council's foreign trade policy strategy, which recognizes the significance of strengthening our relations with our most important economic partners. In that regard, the USA is the second most important export market after Germany and is the most important destination for Swiss investments. Moreover, U.S. companies are the most important foreign investors in Switzerland. Through its economic policy and its growth, the USA has and will continue to have a major impact on the global economy. Therefore closer bilateral economic relations will help to stimulate economic growth in Switzerland.

A free trade agreement would make it possible to strengthen the relations between Switzerland and the USA. It would further intensify the bilateral ties and offer the Swiss economy good basic conditions for consolidating its market shares in the USA.

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