Economy

Bilateral Relations between Switzerland and the EU
The “Bilateral III” treaty package is intended to stabilize and further develop relations between Switzerland and the EU. In June 2025, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the planned treaty package. This runs until the end of October 2025, after which the message to Parliament should follow in early 2026. SwissHoldings supports the Federal Council’s efforts to sustainably secure access to the EU internal market, but emphasizes the necessity of preserving Switzerland’s economic policy sovereignty and carefully examining integration policy questions.
Read more
Free Trade Agreement
Free trade agreements (FTAs) are a central instrument for export-oriented Switzerland to diversify trade relations. Recently, decisive progress has been achieved in several negotiations that have been ongoing for years in some cases, including agreements with India, Chile, Malaysia, Mercosur, and Thailand. Further negotiations are ongoing, for example with Vietnam. In addition, modernizations with Mexico, the Southern African Customs Union, and China are planned. SwissHoldings expressly supports the continuous expansion and modernization of free trade agreements.
Read more
Investment Controls
The proposal for introducing investment screening is intended to prevent takeovers by foreign investors if these endanger public order or security. Both the National Council and the Council of States have entered into the proposal. The business now goes back to the EATC-S, which will take up detailed consultation on August 29, 2025. SwissHoldings considers the existing legal framework sufficient and emphasizes the importance of access to international investment markets that is as non-discriminatory and transparent as possible.
Read more
Investment Protection Agreements
Switzerland has one of the world’s largest networks of bilateral investment protection agreements (IPAs). Since a practice change by the Federal Council, IPAs are newly subject to the optional referendum. Investment protection agreements create a reliable environment that enables Swiss companies to invest safely and sustainably abroad. SwissHoldings welcomes efforts worldwide to continuously develop and improve the IPA instrument. The IPA with Saudi Arabia expired on August 8, 2025. Negotiations for a new agreement are already well advanced.
Read more
Corporate Responsibility
Sustainability regulations in the EU have developed rapidly but have been temporarily slowed by the “Simplification Omnibus” package and the “Stop-the-Clock” initiative. The Federal Council is examining the adoption of these rules for Switzerland but still faces uncertainties due to the package. Decisions on next steps will be made by spring 2026 at the latest. At the same time, a new corporate responsibility initiative was established in June 2025. SwissHoldings supports the Federal Council’s course and advocates for internationally compatible, pragmatic regulation that takes into account the particularities of the Swiss economy.
Read more
Collective Legal Protection
The class action proposal (21.082) provides for the expansion of the existing association lawsuit, the introduction of a new association lawsuit for asserting compensation claims, as well as binding court settlements. The National Council did not enter into the proposal in the spring session 2025. The LAC-S spoke against entering into the proposal on August 14. The deliberation in the Council of States is expected for the autumn session 2025. SwissHoldings decisively rejects the proposal, as class actions following foreign models favor a professional litigation industry and lead to problematic litigation expansion through mechanisms like Third-Party Litigation Funding.
Read more
IFRS Standardization
The IFRS Foundation develops global accounting standards and oversees the IASB, which creates financial standards, as well as the ISSB, which focuses on sustainability standards. Currently, the ISSB’s focus is on biodiversity and human rights. Additionally, the Board conducted a consultation on greenhouse gas emissions in 2025. The IASB is currently reviewing IFRS 16 on leases. SwissHoldings actively participates in these developments with detailed position statements.
Read more
Initial Situation of Switzerland as a Financial Center
With the package of measures to strengthen financial market stability, the Federal Council draws lessons from the CS crisis and plans legal and regulatory adjustments in four staggered consultations until 2026 in the areas of capital requirements, liquidity, corporate governance, and supervision. SwissHoldings will actively participate in the upcoming consultations and simultaneously analyze the effects of the planned regulation on the supply of financial services for the association’s members. From SwissHoldings’ perspective, the new regulation should sustainably strengthen stability in Switzerland’s financial market without worsening financing conditions for companies.
Read more

Trade and investment policy

Corporate Social Responsibility

Capital Markets

Accounting and Financial Reporting

Latest Update in Economy Department

Update Economy

Recent

Editorials

No Swiss finish for new digital climate reporting

Swiss companies must provide climate-related data in a machine-readable format for the first time this year. While similar obligations in...

Read More

Allgemein

Facts and Figures on SwissHoldings Member Companies 2025

Every year we publish an overview of the importance of our member companies in Switzerland and worldwide. Our publication “Facts and...

Read More

Economics

No Class Action Lawsuits: Council of States Committee Opts for Mediation and Ombudsman Procedures

The Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of States voted against introducing class action lawsuits into Swiss law last week....

Read More

Editorials

EU Eases Sustainability Requirements – What Does This Mean For Swiss Companies?

The European Commission proposed far-reaching adjustments to sustainability and supply chain regulations in its ‘Simplification...

Read More

Press releases

Class actions: no outdated instruments for Switzerland

Yesterday, the Legal Committee of the National Council decided against the introduction of class actions in Switzerland with a clear...

Read More

Reports & Studies

Background: Further information on the EU Supply Chain Act and initial assessment by SwissHoldings

With the final approval of the Council of the European Union to the European Parliament’s version on 24 May 2024, the EU directive on...

Read More
See all

Contact

Denise Anne Laufer

Head Economics, Member of the Executive Committee

 

+41 31 356 68 62
denise.laufer@swissholdings.ch

Dustin Rosenfeld

Economic Policy Manager

 

+41 31 351 90 72
dustin.rosenfeld@swissholdings.ch

Comments are closed.

↑