The Swiss Coalition for Cultural Diversity, in conjunction with the Swiss National Commission for UNESCO, has begun the first phase of a project entitled “Cultural Diversity – More Than A Slogan!”. The purpose of this joint initiative is to launch the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention in Switzerland by developing a catalogue of proposals after consulting experts and the various actors in civil society.

It is especially important to take heed of the development of the European Union bilateral trade negotiations, first and foremost, since the European Union now appears determined to append to all its future agreements a Cultural Cooperation Protocol. Such a protocol refers to the UNESCO Convention in order to justify the differential treatment accorded to cultural goods and services in the context of a trade agreement. However, this type of protocol appended to a trade agreement involves several risks for the diversity of cultural expressions.

With the Doha Round negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) continuing to be deadlocked, Canada was back on the bilateral track in 2008, signing four free trade agreements (FTAs) and announcing further negotiations for 2009.

In 2008, the country signed FTAs with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA, which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) as well as with Peru, Colombia and Jordan.