The machinery industry has yet to tremble

"This is an incredibly important agreement for us." So Liam Fox, the British foreign trade Minister, when he yesterday with Federal councillor Guy Parmelin (SVP) in Bern for the ceremonial signing of an agreement step raved. While the Swiss economy, informed Minister soberly about the content of the new agreement that gave Fox elated. The trade agreements have not only the economically most important, but also politically, - said the guest from England.

In fact, The British diplomacy, for the currently, little goes according to Plan, we can finally have a success. The "incredibly important" to the contract but is unquestionably much more than a political trophy. To Wear he came from, especially when the United Kingdom of the EU on 29. March without an exit agreement to leave. A "No Deal" could lead in the worst case, between Switzerland and the British Isles bilateral no-man's land opens up – with devastating consequences for the exchange of goods. Such a nightmare scenario is to prevent the new agreement. In fact, it is a kind of framework agreement, which covers various sub-contracts. These are transmitted all in All, just copies of the commercial treaties between Switzerland and the EU: What is true today in respect of the Union, to the United Kingdom.

barriers

threaten An important sector remained, however, outside, in front of: For the machinery industry, the new agreement brings no security. This Situation is not due to the evil will of the negotiating partners. The reason is rather dodgy-judicial in nature. It comes to the complex rules for dealing with technical barriers to trade.

Basically, the Switzerland and the UK are committed here to the same agreement as that which exists between Switzerland and the EU: Has any product, whether or not the internal combustion engine or Product in a country, the standards, it is considered to be compatible with the rules of the other country and is allowed to be sold. In the specific case of the machinery industry, however, it is prohibited to Switzerland to meet with the British to such an Agreement. You would do it, would you compared with the EU in breach of contract. In the case of the pharmaceutical industry or the car industry, there is not this Problem, because trade within the EU is regulated in a different way. For these two high-revenue industries, Switzerland and the UK were able to yesterday because of the trade barriers to eliminate.

In the machinery sector, however, it could be uncomfortable, if by the end of March, no solution will be found. According to information from the administration of large delays threatened in mutual trade. Switzerland would be forced to check the imports of the island on their conformity. How, conversely, the British were compared to the Swiss exports behavior is unclear. Calculations of the potential economic damage. Would be affected, after all, an export volume of around 800 million Swiss francs per year.

will that be Enough time?

Two options remain. Either London and Brussels to agree on an exit agreement. Or Switzerland, and the UK is a separate agreement from the act in which you do not recognise your product standards to each other, even if they do not match. Face-to-run; it is unclear whether the time is sufficient until the end of March for a successful completion.

but building at Swissmem, the umbrella Association of the machinery industry. On a Failure you do not like to think there is: "Swissmem expects that the remaining open questions of the time can be to the satisfaction of the Swiss exporters are solved," according to a spokesman.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 11.02.2019, 22:52 PM