Switzerland and the United Kingdom: joint efforts for a prosperous future
- Introduction Executive summary | Positions of economiesuisse
- Chapter 1 The United Kingdom in Europe – one year after Brexit
- Chapter 2 Bilateral economic relations between Switzerland and the UK – taking stock
- Chapter 3 Calling for further deepening of relations with the UK
- Chapter 4 Growing together with bilateral networking
Growing together with bilateral networking
Brexit has had major trade, administrative and regulatory implications for all countries in Europe. However, the reshaping of bilateral relations with the United Kingdom also opens up new opportunities for Switzerland.
Switzerland and the United Kingdom are ideal economic partners in many areas. This is supported not least by their international competitiveness, strong innovative capacity, openness, political independence, sense of pragmatism, geographical proximity and the close contacts that already exist at government, administrative and business level. On this basis, bilateral relations can be profitably deepened for both sides.
The UK’s exit from the EU has not so much changed the numerical significance of the CH-UK bilateral relationship as expanded the scope of what is politically feasible. Even though the EU will remain Switzerland’s most important economic partner in Europe, Brexit has created numerous new opportunities that must be exploited.
If this succeeds, it will have positive effects on the competitiveness of both countries and the dynamics of bilateral trade and investment. It is also an opportunity for Switzerland and the United Kingdom to position themselves more strongly on important issues of European and global significance.