China and Switzerland have signed a protocol to update their Free Trade Agreement, with the aim of expanding market access between the two nations, fostering mutual investment, and elevating bilateral economic cooperation to a new level.
According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, the document incorporates high-standard commitments regarding the liberalization of trade in goods and services, as well as investment. Furthermore, the updated agreement focuses on enhancing provisions related to rules of origin, trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, digital trade, competition conditions, and sustainable development.
A representative from the Ministry noted that this document provides a more robust institutional framework for bilateral trade and economic relations, while clearly demonstrating the commitment of both parties to open cooperation, free trade, and a rules-based multilateral trading system. Currently, Switzerland is China’s seventh-largest trading partner in Europe, while China is Switzerland’s largest trading partner in Asia. Over the past five years, the annual trade turnover between the two sides has averaged more than 50 billion US dollars. Based on results from January to September 2026, this figure reached 89 billion dollars—an increase of 127 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.
It is worth noting that the initial Free Trade Agreement between China and Switzerland was signed in 2013 and entered into force in July 2014. Negotiations to upgrade the agreement began in September 2024, spanned five rounds, and were successfully concluded in August 2026. According to reports, following the signing of the protocol, the parties agreed to expedite their respective domestic ratification procedures and bring the updated agreement into effect as soon as possible.
