Webinar: “How Should Switzerland React to the New Mega-Regionals from Asia-Pacific?”

+ Thank you to those who took part in the webinar!
Have a look at our article to find out what was discussed!

Join us for an outlook on Switzerland’s upcoming trade policy challenges in Asia with Mr. Dominique Ursprung, Lecturer at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Patrick Ziltener, Professor and Lecturer at the University of Zurich & Councillor at the University of St. Gallen!

With the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade pact, another trade policy initiative from Asia has come into focus. While RCEP is expected to enter into force this year, the second major Asia-Pacific trade initiative, the Japan-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has already been a reality for two years.

In this webinar, Mr. Ursprung and Prof. Ziltener will draw from their article recently published (in German) on the Internet platform “Ökonomenstimme” to analyze the implications of these developments for Switzerland, highlight the current challenges in Swiss foreign trade policy and, in the case of CPTPP, address the possibility of additional members joining the partnership agreement. 

Biography of the Speakers:

Mr. Dominique Ursprung is a lecturer at the International Management Institute of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). Since 2016 he manages the office of the Swiss-Japanese Chamber of Commerce (SJCC) and is the Secretary of the Parliamentary Group Switzerland-Japan.

Prof. Dr. Patrick Ziltener is Professor of Sociology and Lecturer in Economic History at the University of Zurich and a University Councillor at the University of St. Gallen. He was responsible for bilateral economic relations with Japan and other East Asian countries at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) from 2006-09. His current research areas are regional and bilateral free trade agreements, globalisation and the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative.