With immediate effect, the US is applying a tariff ceiling of 15% on imports from Switzerland. This applies retroactively from 14 November 2025. In return, Switzerland will reduce import tariffs on certain fish and agricultural products from the USA. The basis for this is the joint statement published on 14 November between Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the USA.
Points of contact for affected businesses
- If you have specific questions regarding US import regulations and tariffs on imports from Switzerland, please refer to the information provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection helpline: traderemedy@cbp.dhs.gov
- For further advice in connection with exports from Switzerland to the USA you can contact Export Help at Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE):
Tel.: 0844 811 812
Email: exporthelp@s-ge.com
Website: S-GE ExportHelp | S-GE - Import duties on goods from the United States (FOCBS)
- Importers, customs brokers and industry associations can provide further details.
With the entry into force of the new US customs regulations retroactively from 14 November 2025, the applicable US tariffs on Swiss goods will be significantly reduced. The USA will apply an across-the-board tariff ceiling of 15% on imports from Switzerland, replacing the previous additional tariff of 39%. The existing exemptions from US additional tariffs – including pharmaceuticals, certain chemicals, gold and coffee – remain in force unchanged. In addition, based on the joint statement, the US is to lift the general additional tariff on further Swiss export products, including aircraft, certain aviation-related parts, rubber products, cosmetics and generic drugs. The list will be published in the US Federal Register. Switzerland is seeking further exemptions.
Products that were subject to a tariff rate of more than 15% before 2 April 2025 will once again be subject to their original tariff rate. The sectoral US additional tariffs under Section 232, for example on steel, aluminium, cars and copper, also remain unchanged. For ongoing Section 232 investigations concerning pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, it was agreed in the joint statement that any additional sectoral tariffs imposed on Switzerland will not exceed 15%.
In return, Switzerland will reduce tariffs for the USA on fish, seafood and certain agricultural products for which the reductions are compatible with Swiss agricultural policy. Switzerland is also establishing duty-free bilateral quotas for the USA (500 tonnes of beef, 1,000 tonnes of bison meat and 1,500 tonnes of poultry meat per year). These tariff reductions are to be implemented through the Ordinance of 12 November 2025 on Import Duties for Goods from the United States and the Ordinance of 8 December 2025 on Rules of Origin for Goods from the United States.
The date for the retroactive implementation of these market access concessions was coordinated with the USA to ensure a simultaneous reduction in tariffs and to provide importers with the greatest possible relief. This gives both Swiss and US importers the opportunity to claim customs refunds from the respective customs authorities. In the case of imports from the USA, Swiss importers can apply for a refund of import duties for the import assessments concerned by submitting a request for reconsideration. Further information on customs refunds is published by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security.
With the US tariff ceiling set at 15%, trade-weighted US tariffs on Switzerland will fall by around 10% on average. This will significantly improve access to the US market for Swiss companies. The competitiveness of Swiss companies will also be strengthened, as they will once again enjoy similar conditions on the US market as companies from the EU or other US trading partners with a similar economic structure.
SECO will keep the affected industries informed about the application of the new regulations and the corresponding customs tariffs.
Current balance of trade between Switzerland and the US
The bilateral balance of trade between Switzerland and the US is relatively even. The US has a surplus in service exports and Switzerland in goods exports. Switzerland’s goods export surplus is not due to ‘unfair’ trade practices. Switzerland abolished all industrial tariffs on 1 January 2024. 99.3% of all goods from the US can be imported into Switzerland tariff-free.
Switzerland does not provide market-distorting industrial subsidies. The goods export surplus can largely be attributed to exports from the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and the gold trade. Switzerland has specialised in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry for decades and accordingly invests substantially in research and development in the US (largest foreign investor in research and development activities).
The provision of binding legal information on US import regulations and tariffs is the responsibility of the relevant US authorities (see contact details for US Customs and Border Protection). The information provided here is for information purposes only.
Last modification 10.12.2025
