Canada and Switzerland have a close relation, based upon shared values and a commitment to democracy and human rights. Despite the huge difference in size of the countries, Canada and Switzerland share a number of similarities: both are prosperous, have multiple languages, and multi-ethnic societies as well as federal states. Canada and Switzerland also share French as an official language. Switzerland is also the host of numerous United Nations Agencies, the World Trade Organisation, the World Economic Forum, and many other organizational meetings. By doing so Switzerland frequently hosts representatives from all levels of Canadian government as well as Canadian business leaders.
Canada and Switzerland have a strong and diverse relationship that has a full circle of trade, investment and innovation. In 2009, a Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is one of four members, came into force. It gives an advantage to Canadian businesses and provides a strategic platform for Canadians to expand business ties throughout Europe. Since then, trade between Canada and Switzerland has steadily increased and two-way merchandise goods trade was valued at $12.4 billion in 2013.
Switzerland is Canada’s 5th largest foreign investor ($21 billion) and 15th largest merchandise trading partner ($5.7 billion in 2013); Canadian merchandise exports to Switzerland ($1.7 billion in 2013) consisted mainly of precious stones and metals, machinery and equipment, aerospace products, pharmaceutical products, and electrical and electronic machinery and equipment. Swiss merchandise imports into Canada ($4 billion in 2013) included pharmaceutical products, organic chemicals, scientific and precision instruments, machinery and equipment, as well as clocks, watches and parts.
Canada and Switzerland have a strong and diverse relationship that has a full circle of trade, investment and innovation. In 2009, a Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is one of four members, came into force. It gives an advantage to Canadian businesses and provides a strategic platform for Canadians to expand business ties throughout Europe. Since then, trade between Canada and Switzerland has steadily increased and two-way merchandise goods trade was valued at $12.4 billion in 2013.
Switzerland is Canada’s 5th largest foreign investor ($21 billion) and 15th largest merchandise trading partner ($5.7 billion in 2013); Canadian merchandise exports to Switzerland ($1.7 billion in 2013) consisted mainly of precious stones and metals, machinery and equipment, aerospace products, pharmaceutical products, and electrical and electronic machinery and equipment. Swiss merchandise imports into Canada ($4 billion in 2013) included pharmaceutical products, organic chemicals, scientific and precision instruments, machinery and equipment, as well as clocks, watches and parts.