Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›Trade & Tariffs›UK signs Switzerland services deal to add e-gates and…
UK signs Switzerland services deal to add e-gates and end roaming charges
The agreement is estimated to raise UK exports to Switzerland by £5.2 billion a year in the long run and makes a 90-day services mobility arrangement permanent.
The UK has signed a new services trade deal with Switzerland that will let British travelers use electronic e-gates at Zurich Airport for the first time, with Geneva and Basel set to publish timelines later this year, according to BBC Business.
The deal will also scrap mobile roaming charges for tourists and professionals visiting both countries, and it puts on a permanent basis a services mobility arrangement that allows businesses to provide services for up to 90 days without a work permit, which was previously scheduled to expire in 2029.
The UK government estimates the agreement will increase exports to Switzerland by £5.2 billion annually in the long run. It also says UK employees will be able to transfer to work in Switzerland for up to five years without stringent economic needs tests, with ministers citing professions such as lawyers, accountants, and architects.
BBC Business reports the announcement comes as the new UK prime minister transition approaches and follows the UK striking trade deals with the US, India, the Gulf Cooperation Council, South Korea, and the EU. Switzerland is also implementing the EU Entry Exit System, which will allow UK citizens to use EU eGates.