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Switzerland pushes for early ratification of PHL- EFTA FTA

MANILA, March 2 (PNA) –- Switzerland is looking forward to the immediate ratification of the Philippines- European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday Swiss Federal Councilor and Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, during his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. recently, said the agreement, which was signed in Bern on April 28, 2016, need to be enforced to improve trade relations between the two countries.

Aside from Switzerland, other European countries signatory to the free trade were Iceland, Liechttenstein and Norway

As a broad-based agreement, the FTA covers trade in goods, trade in services, investment, competition, of intellectual property rights, government procurement, and trade and sustainable development.

in the area of trade in goods, EFTA abolishes all custom duties on industrial products whereas the Philippines will gradually lower or abolish its duties on the vast majority of such product.

DFA also said Yasay, Jr. and Burkhalter reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen and enhance bilateral relations between the Philippines and Switzerland in light of the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations this year.

Secretary Yasay thanked Switzerland for supporting the peace process in the Philippines.

He added that one of the key reasons for President Duterte’s desire to transition into a federal form of government is to address the Muslim issue of self-governance.

Yasay invited Foreign Minister Burkhalter to share Switzerland’s experience in federalism who, in turn, expressed readiness to support the Philippines, the DDFA said.

He congratulated the Philippines on its chairmanship of ASEAN and said that Switzerland is willing to cooperate with ASEAN on human security and vocational-technical education and training.

On the issue of President Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, Secretary Yasay explained that the government’s war on drugs is part of the key initiative towards achieving economic development.

He stressed that the Philippines remains committed to upholding the rule of law in its fight against drugs.

Foreign Minister Burkhalter inquired if it would be helpful to share experiences on drug policies with the Philippines and expressed his country’s readiness to support the latter. He stressed that his offer is not to moralize but simply to engage in a dialogue and exchange of views on drug policies.

The DFA said the bilateral meeting served as an occasion to reaffirm the two countries’ willingness to deepen partnership, especially in light of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations this year. (PNA)

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