Parmelin secured trade gains but delivered limited farm reform
Friday 2nd October 2026 on 17:45 in
Switzerland
Guy Parmelin’s record as Switzerland’s economics minister includes pandemic support and several trade agreements, but no sweeping agricultural overhaul, SRF reports. He took over the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research in 2019, after serving as defence minister.
Pandemic support for businesses
Parmelin oversaw the economic response to the Covid pandemic. Short-time work schemes and Covid aid helped many businesses through the lockdown, which began on March 16, 2020, and was lifted gradually over the following weeks. Official restrictions ended in spring 2022.
During his first year as federal president in 2021, he and Interior Minister Alain Berset made frequent public appearances to reassure the public and businesses.
Trade agreements and the United States
Switzerland concluded free-trade agreements with Indonesia and India during Parmelin’s tenure. The agreement with Indonesia took effect in late 2021, while the one with India entered into force in 2025. Both improved access to markets for Swiss products. He also secured changes to Switzerland’s agreement with China in late August.
The next major deal is an agreement with Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Swiss government signed it a year ago, and it is now being debated in parliament.
Parmelin also played a central role in talks with the United States after Swiss products faced tariffs of 39 percent in August 2025. He travelled to Washington in November and reached an agreement with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Tariffs fell to 15 percent and now stand mostly at 12.5 percent. Leading Swiss companies pledged a total of 200 billion US dollars in investment as part of the effort.
Swiss relations with the EU
As federal president in 2026, Parmelin helped advance the Bilaterals III package of agreements between Switzerland and the EU. He signed it in Brussels on March 2 with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Reaching a positive outcome on the agreements is a major issue for business groups such as Economiesuisse. Parmelin’s role is notable because his party, the Swiss People’s Party, opposes the package.
Agriculture reform remained limited
Parmelin got a scaled-down version of the Agricultural Policy 2022+ through parliament after it rejected the original reform proposal. His next proposal, AP30+, entered consultation in early September and aims to improve food security in Switzerland.
He opposed the drinking water and pesticide initiatives put to voters in June 2021; both were rejected. The number of farms continued to fall during his tenure.