Switzerland has signed many bilateral agreements which also include protecting intellectual property with its trade partners. The Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) negotiates the provisions concerning intellectual property.

Switzerland’s export-oriented economy is dependent on good economic framework conditions in trade with other countries. To this end, Switzerland has signed many bilateral agreements on trade and economic cooperation with partner countries.

To protect Switzerland’s innovative products and services abroad, the agreements also contain regulations to protect intellectual property. These provisions reflect the importance of intangible goods (patents, trade marks, geographical indications of source and designs as well as general know-how) in global trade.

Bilateral agreements include:

In addition to the bilateral agreements, multilateral treaties, such as from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), are also of central importance to Switzerland’s foreign economic policy.