Britons to use e-gates in Switzerland as Starmer seals £5.2bn trade deal
Summary
The UK and Switzerland signed a trade deal worth £5.2 billion that will let British travelers use e-gates at Swiss airports and end mobile phone roaming charges. The deal aims to boost UK services exports, ease business travel, and protect pharmaceutical patent rules.Key Facts
- British travelers can start using e-gates at Zurich airport later this year, with Basel and Geneva airports to follow next year.
- Mobile phone roaming charges between the UK and Switzerland will be removed.
- The deal covers trade in medicines, cars, art, jewellery, photographic materials, and other goods.
- The UK hopes the deal will increase its annual services exports to Switzerland by £5.2 billion in the long term.
- Switzerland is the UK's sixth largest market for services, worth about £30 billion per year.
- Visa-free travel for up to 90 days a year is allowed for UK services professionals visiting Switzerland, easing business travel.
- Both countries will maintain pharmaceutical patent protections, ensuring continued access to affordable generic medicines for the NHS.
- The agreement is described as one of six major trade deals secured by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in his two years in office.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
