Kemi Badenoch will fly to Switzerland on Monday for talks with her Swiss counterpart on a new post-Brexit trade deal, describing the two countries as “natural trading partners”. The business and trade secretary is meeting Guy Parmelin in Berne to discuss a “modern” UK-Switzerland free trade agreement (FTA) that would boost trade between two “services superpowers”, she said. The total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Switzerland was nearly £53bn last year, up £13bn on 2021, according to the department for business and trade. With nearly 70% of the UK’s services exports to Switzerland delivered electronically both sides are said to be keen on a modernised agreement. Little wonder the OBR forecasts UK exports will fall by 6.6% in 2023, a hit of over £51bn to the economy.”

Source: The Guardian May 15, 2023 12:27 UTC