Switzerland's Top Trade Negotiator Resigns

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda has announced she will be stepping down from her post at the end of March 2027. Select your language

Generated with artificial intelligence. Listening: Switzerland's top trade negotiator resigns This content was published on September 17, 2026 - 08:16 1 minute Keystone-SDA

Français fr La directrice du SECO Helene Budliger Artieda annonce sa démission Original Read more: La directrice du SECO Helene Budliger Artieda annonce sa démi

The director of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) intends to take on a new professional challenge, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (DEFR) announced on Wednesday.

Budliger Artieda has been head of SECO since August 2022. The free trade agreements with India and the Mercosur states were signed during her tenure.

+ 'We'll have to live with US tariffs,' warns SECO head

It was also under her leadership that Switzerland and the United States reached an agreement on customs duties in November 2025. The two parties signed a declaration of intent aimed at reducing US import duties on numerous products from Switzerland from 39% to 15%.

Helene Budliger Artieda began her career at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in 1985. She subsequently undertook several postings abroad and headed a department within the FDFA, before being appointed ambassador to South Africa and then to Thailand.

+ How we produce news in English
Translated from French, reviewed by an English Department journalist.

Related Stories Popular Stories N

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo certified by the Journalism Trust Initiati

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at ....

MENAFN17092026000210011054ID1111677921