Abolition of customs duties on industrial products

The abolition of customs duties on industrial products will come into force in Switzerland on 1 January 2024.

The elimination of customs duties on industrial products covers all industrial products, from bicycles to automobiles, electrical appliances and all types of intermediate products (such as aluminium, welding equipment, plastics, etc.), with the exception of agricultural and fishery products, as well as certain chemical products.

Chapters 25 to 97 of the Customs Tariff Act are affected, with the exception of chapters 35 and 38.

This measure should reduce the cost to companies of acquiring a wide range of products, in particular raw materials and semi-finished products used in the manufacture of capital goods. The aim of this measure is to strengthen Switzerland as a business and industrial location. It also means that it will no longer be necessary to rely on a free trade agreement (FTA) or the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to import industrial products that it is established at the time of import will remain or be consumed in Switzerland. No further proof of preferential origin will therefore be required for these products (different process for cumulation of origin).

At the same time, the complex customs tariff for industrial products will be simplified. The current 9114 tariff headings will be reduced to 7511, as the fine subdivision, which currently allows differentiated customs duties to be levied, will in most cases no longer be necessary in the industrial sector. The Swiss customary tariff Tares will be adapted accordingly.

The abolition of industrial duties will not result in any changes to customs procedures. The import declaration requirement, including the correct indication of the tariff numbers of the goods to be imported, remains in force.

This is good news for Swiss consumers, SMEs and large companies that use intermediate goods in their production chain. In addition, the Federal Customs Administration itself will see a significant reduction in the resources devoted to customs clearance, imports and verification of rules of origin.

For full details, visit the website of the Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection.