Free trade agreement
Parmelin signs with Mercosur, but can still trip
The Minister of Economy adds a new string to his bow with this treaty. Opposite, the environmental party says it is ready to launch a referendum.
Guy Parmelin may have a smile. He has just signed a new free trade agreement with a major partner: Mercosur.
Yvain Genevay / Tamedia
- Switzerland signs-with its Aele partners-a free trade agreement with Mercosur.
- Formed by four South American countries, this market represents 260 million inhabitants.
- This new agreement is a victory for Guy Parmelin, Minister of the Economy.
- He may have to go through the ballot boxes, since the Greens already brandish the referendum.
Guy Parmelin is definitely revealed as a champion of free trade. In 2021, the Minister of the Economy convinced the people to accept the agreement With Indonesia. In 2024, he signed with India. And this year, he’s doubles: a free trade agreement with the Malaysia In June and, now, a free trade agreement with Mercosur.
The information was confirmed by a spokesperson for the European Free Trade Association (AELE). Switzerland has been negotiating since 2017 with its AELE partners since 2017 to win this treaty. Guy Parmelin is currently in Argentina.
Mercosur? It is a common market, which brings together four countries in South America: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Together, they represent 260 million inhabitants and constitute an interesting outlet for industry. “In 2024, Swiss freight exports for Mercosur countries exceeded 3.7 billion francs, while imports of goods amounted to 680 million,” said The State Secretariat for Economy (SECO) on its website.
SECO specifies that such an agreement would save nearly 160 million per year. Apart from the EU and China, this represents the greatest potential for savings from all agreements concluded by Switzerland. Mercosur is at the same level as India.
Greens are ready to fight the agreement
But Guy Parmelin may well have to pass the people. This agreement indeed arouses the fear of agricultural environments. That’s not all: in March, the assembly of the Greens has already decided to fight it by referendum. In a call for signatures, the party explains that “in the Mercosur countries, the increase in agricultural exports and free trade promotes an exponential industrialization of agriculture to the detriment of the environment, the population and the animals”.
Lisa Mazzone, President of the Greens.
J-P GUINNARD
Contacted, the party president, Lisa Mazzone, maintains the pressure. “In the heat wave, the Federal Council signs an agreement to the detriment of the climate and the Amazon forest. The Greens will examine the details of the agreement, but are ready for the referendum. ”
A voting in the form of a challenge. In 2021, the agreement with Indonesia had only passed 51.7%. Guy Parmelin is warned.
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