Thread by @CoppetainPU

What have the UK and Switzerland agreed on their trade relationship post-Brexit?

The text(s) is(are) not available publicly but there are interesting insights in a Swiss government information sheet, prepared mainly for Swiss companies.

Quite a long thread (21 tweets)

1/21

I have a rough translation👇🏾. It’s from the French version, which is here: seco.admin.ch/dam/seco/fr/do…

German and Italian versions are also available by switching the language link at the top right of this page (the English page has the German text): seco.admin.ch/seco/fr/home/A…

2/21

The information sheet goes through a number of relevant agreements.

In each case it looks at “deal” (UK leaves EU with the Withdrawal Agreement and transition), and “no deal”.

“Deal” only looks at the transition, not beyond, so not a long-term “roll-over”. More a stop-gap

3/21

Remember it’s a “rough translation”.

1. Free trade. With an exit deal and transition — no change

4/21

Free trade, “no deal” — bilateral rights and obligations preserved; aiming to reproduce in a bilateral agreement

5/21

2. Rules of origin. With an exit deal/transition — PEM (ec.europa.eu/taxation_custo…).

6/21

Rules of origin under “No deal” — PEM “as much as possible”. Working to preserve cumulation. Need to ensure goods traded between UK and Switzerland under this do not end up in the EU

7/21

3. Customs facilitation and security. “Deal”/transition — no change

8/21

Customs facilitation and security. “No deal” — life gets pretty complicated. UK excluded from security area; checks needed; not known what security measures the UK will implement.

9/21

4. Administrative and customs assistance. “Deal”/transition — no change

10/21

Administrative and customs assistance. “No deal” — should be no change

11/21

5. Mutual recognition of conformity assessments. “Deal”/transition — no change expected

12/21

Mutual recognition of conformity assessments. “No deal” — Some sectors, continue; others need bilateral agreement; suggests basing on Swiss-Canada agreement

13/21

6. Agriculture. “Deal”/transition — no change. “No deal” — pretty complex. The information sheet says this and then continues with various annexes.

14/21

Agriculture "No deal". Annexes 1 to 3, 7, 8, 10 and 12 (tariff quotas, cheese, geographical indications, wines & spirits, fruit and veg, etc) — Switzerland and UK have agreed on bilateral solutions based on the Swiss-EU agricultural agreement

15/21

Agriculture "No deal". Annexes 4 to 6 and 9 (non-tariff issues) — Not status quo; checks for many products; UK “organic” label no longer recognised in Switzerland

16/21

7. Veterinary agreement. “Deal”/transition — no change

17/21

Veterinary agreement. “No deal” — the UK will no longer be in the veterinary area. There will be some interruptions, how long depends “solely on the EU”. Once the UK is recognised as a 3rd country, trade can resume

18/21

8. Government procurement. “Deal”/transition — No change because governed by WTO agreement and Swiss-EU agreement

19/21

Government procurement. “Single no deal” — only WTO agreement applies, blocks bidding for local authority and railways contracts subject to equal treatment given.

But wait, that‘s not all …

20/21

Government procurement. “Double no deal” — the UK fails to accede to the WTO agreement as well: not contractual obligations at all, but the UK and Switzerland intend to negotiate an agreement.

(Hope to have this on the blog eventually, so no need to read images)

21/21

Now on the blog here:

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2019/02/05/uk-…