New Zealand – Switzerland Announce Trade and Investment Dialogue

Switzerland and New Zealand Ministers responsible for trade met today on the sidelines of the Second Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership Ministerial Meeting in Auckland, where they reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation. The meeting builds on a positive programme of recent high-level engagement between New Zealand and Switzerland.

Ministers acknowledged the longstanding and constructive relationship between New Zealand and Switzerland, built over more than 60 years of diplomatic relations. They noted that the relationship is underpinned by shared democratic values, strong people-to-people links, education and cultural ties, and a common commitment to open, outward-looking economies. Ministers also recognised the contribution of trade in goods and services, two-way investment, commercial linkages, and cooperation in science, research and innovation to the broader bilateral relationship.

Ministers recognised the important contribution of New Zealand and Swiss businesses, researchers and institutions in advancing practical cooperation and creating opportunities for future collaboration.

At a time of increasing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Ministers reaffirmed the importance of cooperation, dialogue and international engagement. They underscored the value of stable and predictable economic relationships, and committed to working together in support of resilience, sustainable growth and long-term prosperity. The Ministers reflected on the areas they have worked to advance trade rules, including in areas such as trade and sustainability through the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS).

Ministers also recognised the important role of plurilateral and multilateral cooperation in advancing practical and ambitious trade outcomes. New Zealand and Switzerland work together across a range of forums, including in the WTO, the OECD, the FIT Partnership and the Small Advanced Economies Initiative. As founding members of the FIT Partnership, Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working with like-minded partners to support open markets, strengthen supply chain resilience, uphold the rules-based trading system, and promote innovative approaches to trade policy. Ministers also noted Switzerland's interest in deepening dialogue with members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

To further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, Ministers announced their intention to establish a Senior Officials' Trade and Investment Dialogue. This bilateral Dialogue will provide a regular forum for officials to identify opportunities to strengthen trade and investment flows, advance regulatory and policy cooperation, coordinate cooperation in international fora and discuss emerging issues of mutual interest.

Senior officials will report to Ministers from both countries in January 2027, with recommendations on practical opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Ministers expressed confidence that these efforts would contribute to a stronger and more resilient trade and economic partnership between New Zealand and Switzerland.

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