NZ-Swiss trade talks set to begin

New Zealand and Switzerland have agreed to begin trade talks.

The announcement was made following a meeting between Trade Minister Todd McClay and Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, in the margins of the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT) meeting in Auckland.

"Switzerland is an important partner for New Zealand and one of the world's most innovative and advanced economies," McClay said.

"At a time of growing global economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that like-minded countries work together to strengthen trade and investment," he said.

Despite being in mainland Europe, Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, which signed a trade deal with New Zealand in 2023.

New Zealand and Swiss officials will hold their first meeting in September.

Two-way trade between the two countries was worth $1.88 billion in 2025.

New Zealand exports to Switzerland were worth $429 million, and key exports included travel services, meat and edible offal, and hides and skins.

Imports from Switzerland were worth $1.45 billion, which included transportation services, pharmaceuticals, clocks and watches, insurance and pension services, and charges for the use of intellectual property.

"Establishing a trade and investment dialogue will lead to closer economic cooperation and enhanced collaboration, through bilateral trade and international forums like the World Trade Organisation, the OECD and the FIT Partnership," McClay said.