Switzerland has reached an agreement in principle on a free trade agreement with Japan, the economics ministry said on Monday.

A statement by the ministry said the accord should be signed as soon as possible.

The agreement covers several areas including trade in goods and services, rules of origin and investment.

Both sides have pledged to eliminate or reduce tariffs on industrial, and agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

The accord will also provide a framework for a declaration of origin declaration by approved exporters, for which Japan will introduce a new system.

The two countries have also agreed to promote "effective enforcement against illicit goods or goods infringing intellectual property rights" through the simplification of customs procedures, better cooperation and information exchange.

The negotiations were launched at the beginning of 2007 by the Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey and the then Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

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