Swissmem welcomes a further milestone for the Bilaterals III

13/03/2026

Swissmem welcomes the dispatch on the Bilaterals III package: this represents a major step towards stable relations with our most important trading partner. These relations have become even more important at a time when global events are increasingly being dominated by power politics, bloc formation and protectionism. The EU, too, is showing a growing tendency towards isolationism. The Bilaterals III are the only viable opportunity to build a bridge and avoid discrimination. If the new package were to be rejected, Switzerland would be left on the sidelines. As with market access, a liberal labour market is also essential for the tech industry. Swissmem supports the wage-protection package with 13 measures. While no agreement was reached on the extraneous measure concerning dismissal protection, it was improved during the negotiations. Swissmem will therefore not oppose it.

For the Swiss tech industry, unobstructed access to the EU single market is key. With 56 percent of exports going to the EU, it is the most important sales market and provides an indispensable pool of workers. In today’s highly tense global situation, politically stable relations with the EU, which form an essential foundation for smooth economic cooperation, are gaining further in importance. This is true with respect to both Switzerland’s prosperity and its security. Euphoria would be misplaced, as every agreement requires compromises from both sides. Nevertheless, Switzerland has negotiated the Bilaterals III well and achieved a lot. The advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages, and no alternative to the successful bilateral approach would offer Switzerland more benefits.

The Swissmem Council therefore decided unanimously in June 2025 to support the Bilaterals III, provided the liberal labour market was not put at risk. This criterion is fulfilled by the wage-protection package 1–13, which was agreed by the social partners and which Swissmem supports in full. No agreement was reached on measure 14, but improvements were made; Swissmem will not oppose it.

Bilaterals III: the bridge to equal treatment with EU and EEA states

We find ourselves in a transitional phase of global order: moving away from a rule-based, multilateral world towards block formation, power politics and isolationism. With “Buy European”, steel-protection measures and discriminatory depreciation laws, the EU and individual member states are creating trade barriers that would severely impact the export-oriented tech industry. Switzerland must avoid being gradually excluded as a third country. That would be an own goal for the EU in any case: the Swiss tech industry is a key player in European value chains and makes a decisive contribution to both the competitiveness and resilience of the EU.

Switzerland must therefore remain closely integrated into the single market. This will only work with the Bilaterals III, which create a level of economic integration comparable to that of the EEA. Without the Bilaterals III, Switzerland has no foundation on which to seek exemptions from discriminatory EU measures. With the Bilaterals III, however, Switzerland can build a bridge, as shown last week by the European Commission’s decision regarding the Industrial Accelerator Act. Switzerland will, in principle, be treated like EU and EEA states.

For further information please contact:

Noé Blancpain, Member of Management and Head of Communications & Public Affairs
Tel. +41 44 384 48 65 / mobile +41 78 748 61 63
E-mail n.blancpainnoSpam@swissmem.ch

Philippe Cordonier, Member of Management and Head of Swissmem Romandie
Tel. +41 44 384 42 30 / mobile +41 79 644 46 77
E-mail p.cordoniernoSpam@swissmem.ch