Switzerland: Announced Negotiations for UK-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement

On 15 May 2023, Switzerland and the United Kingdom announced the initiation of negotiations for a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. According to the press release provided by the UK Department for Business and Trade, the FTA aims to expand the existing trade relationship between the countries by expanding their commitments regarding trade in services, goods, intellectual property rights, investment flows, and digital trade and data. According to a policy paper released by the UK Government regarding the negotiations, the UK Government aims to negotiate "commitments that facilitate free and trusted cross-border data flows and prohibit unjustified data localisation." Further, it would aim to maintain existing standards for personal data protection, promote the use of digital technologies in trade, prevent the imposition of customs on electronic transmissions, and cooperate on general regulatory issues with the aim harmonising regulatory frameworks.