2024-01-18 16:22:32
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin believes that it is not impossible that an agreement will be concluded this year between Mercosur and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), for which Switzerland is negotiating. KEYSTONE/LAURENT GILLIERON sda-ats
This content was published on January 18, 2024 – 5:48 p.m. January 18, 2024 – 5:48 p.m.
(Keystone-ATS)
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin considers “optimistic but not impossible” the idea of an agreement between EFTA and Mercosur this year once more. Discussions will resume soon, he said on Thursday in Davos (GR).
“No one is required to do the impossible,” the head of the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research (DEFR) told the press on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Everything will depend on the speed of the EU in concluding its agreement with the South American bloc, he added the day following his meeting with the head of Argentine diplomacy Diana Mondino.
But if the discussion stalls between these two actors, the Mercosur countries “are ready” to move forward with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) for which Switzerland is negotiating. An arrangement between the EU and the South Americans would make an agreement for Bern urgent.
The shift in customs duties reaches 35%. “Our companies might quickly be discriminated once morest,” the federal councilor also added.
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