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The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, has concluded a free trade agreement with the four Mercosur countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. A broad alliance launched a referendum against the agreement a month ago. It denounces the consequences for the Amazon rainforest, human rights and Swiss agriculture. Eight cantons can also demand a popular vote through the cantonal referendum; Geneva has already done so.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday 11 November 2026, the Fribourg Grand Council adopted a motion triggering the cantonal referendum<\/strong> against the agreement with Mercosur, according to the ATS news agency. The text was accepted by 57 votes to 47 with 4 abstentions, thanks to an alliance between the UDC and the left. The Fribourg Council of State had recommended rejecting it.<\/p>\n Fribourg becomes the second canton<\/strong> to call for this referendum. If six other cantons do the same, the people will have to vote. According to ATS, the vote is mainly symbolic, since the popular referendum has already been launched.<\/p>\n The motion was tabled by Green MP Fran\u00e7ois Ingold and UDC MP Eric Barras. More than 50 colleagues co-signed it. In their view, opening up to South American agricultural products comes at the worst possible time for the sector.<\/p>\nKey figures<\/h3>\n
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What it means for businesses<\/h3>\n
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Who says what<\/h3>\n
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Further reading<\/h3>\n