China signed its first FTA with a European country, Switzerland on July 6, 2013.  The FTA is a significant advance in China’s trade diplomacy with the West since China’s FTA with New Zealand (2008).   Although Switzerland is not a member of the EU, its close legal, economic and cultural relationships with the EU and its participation in the European Patent Convention, could have a positive impact on harmonizing Chinese practices with European practices in certain areas.  Based on the still skeletal outline provided by the news release from the Swiss government (the release follows the post and the full text has now been release), the FTA seems to advance several important IP interests of Switzerland.  Continue reading →