01Trade status and agreements
Non-EU but EFTA member; bilateral agreements with EU. Not part of the customs union.
Forwarders and shippers need to understand the specific FTA landscape: which preferences apply, which origin documents are accepted. Verify product-by-product on every quote and shipment.
02Customs and import/export specifics
e-dec / Passar 2.0 (from 2025). VAT 8.1 %. ZAZ scheme for central accounting.
Beyond the systems listed, country-specific requirements on product labelling, technical standards and pre-shipment inspections apply. For B2C flows from the EU into Switzerland, correct VAT handling (e.g. IOSS) matters.
03Gateways and connectivity
Main gateways: Basel (Rhein), ZRH, GVA (Luft); Zugang über DE/IT/FR Häfen..
Routing depends on volume, origin/destination and service level. Time-critical: airfreight via the main hub; volume cargo: sea via the largest terminal; intra-region: road or road-rail combinations.
04Top trade partners
Main trading partners: EU (insbesondere DE, IT, FR), USA, China. Exact statistics change yearly; up-to-date data is available from Eurostat, UN Comtrade and national statistics offices.