Switzerland signs more post-Brexit deals with UK

Switzerland with its Gotthard tunnel is a major transit country for goods vehicles travelling between northern and southern Europe. Keystone

Swiss President and Finance Minister Ueli Maurer has signed two agreements with the UK as part of the government’s strategy to maintain smooth ties after Brexit.  

The agreements on road transport and non-life insurance were signed with UK Chancellor Philip Hammond at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Friday, said the finance ministry. They allow existing rules in these domains to be continued without any interruption after Brexit. 

The insurance agreement allows non-life insurers (e.g. offering household, car, travel or civil liability insurance) to establish and operate branches in the other country. 

The road transport agreement ensures that authorisation requirements can be waived, transport of persons and goods by road is maintained and the administrative burden remains low, according to the finance ministry. 

These new agreements are part of the Swiss government’s “Mind the Gap” strategy to ensure smooth links after Brexit. It decided in October 2016 to maintain and in some cases extend existing reciprocal rights and obligations with the UK. Since then Bern and London have concluded several agreements, including on residency rights for each other’s nationals.