Switzerland has numerous free trade agreements, which also include regulations to protect intellectual property.

The aim of free trade agreements is to open up a market and to improve the international framework conditions for economic relations with key partners. This also includes protecting intellectual property, which plays an important role in international trade. In its free trade negotiations, Switzerland therefore is committed to agree transparent and predictable rules for the protection of intellectual property rights, which are adequate and enforceable.

Switzerland concludes most of its free trade agreements within the framework of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Outside of the EFTA framework, Switzerland has free trade agreements in place with the EU, China and Japan.