China and Switzerland due to sign upgraded trade accord on October 30, 2026

Reuters reports Chinese President Xi Jinping and Swiss President Guy Parmelin were due to sign the upgraded accord in Beijing on October 30, 2026, following its announcement in August. The deal largely reciprocates Swiss terms for China. The Swiss government says it gives Chinese industrial goods no new tariff benefits, while Western diplomats see it as a bid to bolster Beijing’s free-trade image amid growing protectionism.