Japan, Switzerland to sign FTA in February+

GENEVA, Jan. 17 Kyodo - Japan and Switzerland will sign a bilateral free trade agreement around Feb. 19 when the Swiss economy minister is planning to visit Japan, officials of Switzerland's Federal Department of Economic Affairs said Friday.

Doris Leuthard, who heads the department, is expected to sign the economic
partnership agreement along with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone,
but Japanese officials have said the date of the signing ceremony is still
being arranged.
The economic partnership agreement, which will cover cooperation in investment
and services in addition to trade in goods, will be the first for Japan to
conclude with an industrialized nation.
The two countries struck a basic deal last September to conclude such an
agreement after launching bilateral negotiations in May 2007.
Under the agreement, tariffs on about 99 percent of the total value of
bilateral trade will be eliminated in 10 years.
Japan expects the accord to expand its exports of automobiles and household
electrical appliances to Switzerland, while the Swiss are hoping to increase
their exports to Japan of products such as wine and cheese.
==Kyodo