Minister of State for International Trade (): Since the House
adjourned for Conference Recess, the Department for Business and
Trade has made good progress on two key trade negotiations. This
statement provides Parliament with an update on the UK’s trade
negotiations with Switzerland and Canada.
UK-Switzerland Trade Negotiations
The second round of negotiations on a UK-Switzerland Enhanced
Free Trade Agreement took place from 18 September-6 October.
During the round, which was virtual, UK officials held
discussions with their Swiss counterparts across all negotiation
areas. The talks were technical in nature, focusing on trade
policy priorities for both countries and in a number of chapters,
supported by draft treaty text. This has enabled further progress
in identifying areas of alignment. Discussions continue to be
constructive and collaborative, with both sides agreeing next
steps to ensure further progress at Round 3, which is scheduled
for later this year.
These negotiations demonstrate our shared ambition to agree a
modern, comprehensive agreement that reflects the current and
future UK-Swiss trade relationship.
The UK is working to negotiate an agreement that delivers modern
services and investment provisions, while further removing tariff
barriers to create mutually beneficial commercially meaningful
opportunities for our world class producers and exporters.
UK-Canada Trade Negotiations
The seventh round of UK-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations
took place from 11 September-15 September. This round was
conducted in a fully virtual fashion, with negotiations taking
place online across all sessions.
Technical discussions were held across 23 policy areas over 53
separate sessions. They included detailed discussions on treaty
text.
Both parties built on the momentum from agreeing in principle UK
accession to CPTPP in March 2023. The negotiations continue to
reflect our shared ambition to secure progressive deal which
strengthens our existing trading relationship, already worth over
£24.8 billion in the year to Q3 2022.
Summary
The Government remains clear that any deal we sign, including
with Switzerland and Canada, will be in the best interests of the
British people and the United Kingdom economy. We will not
compromise on our high environmental and labour protections,
public health, animal welfare and food standards, and we will
maintain our right to regulate in the public interest. We are
also clear that during these negotiations, the NHS, and the
services it provides is not on the table.
His Majesty’s Government will continue to work closely with
Switzerland and Canada to ensure negotiations proceed at pace and
takes place on terms that are right for the UK.
The Government will continue to keep Parliament updated as these
negotiations progress.
