The US is applying a tariff ceiling of 15% on imports from Switzerland. This adjustment has been in effect since December 18th, retroactive to November 14th, 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.
Information and points of contact for affected businesses
- Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the Framework for a United States-Switzerland-Liechtenstein Agreement on Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal Trade
- CSMS # 67133044 - Guidance – Implementation of Tariff-Related Elements of the Framework for a United States-Switzerland-Liechtenstein Agreement
- 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.
Questions and answers
What has Switzerland achieved in the negotiations?
What concessions did Switzerland make?
What procurements has Switzerland committed to?
How will the framework affect Swiss agriculture?
Which agricultural products are not considered sensitive?
Will Swiss supermarkets now stock US chlorinated chicken?
Does streamlining sanitary requirements mean Switzerland will adopt US regulations and drop its own standards?
What do the regulatory simplifications for US cars mean? Will Cybertrucks now be on Swiss roads?
What tariffs apply to pharmaceuticals?
Does Switzerland now have to adopt US sanctions?
When will negotiations for a binding agreement be concluded?
What does the new US customs regulation mean for goods from Switzerland?
Why is the reduction in tariffs being implemented retroactively?
Under the joint declaration of intent, the United States will cap country-specific additional tariffs ('reciprocal tariffs') on Swiss imports at 15%. Standard most-favoured-nation (MFN) tariffs will still apply to imports entering the US.
If the MFN tariff is below 15%, the country-specific additional tariff tops it up to reach the 15% ceiling. If the MFN tariff already exceeds 15%, only that tariff applies – with no additional tariffs.
Existing exemptions from additional tariffs under Annex II to US Executive Order 14257 remain in place. These cover pharmaceuticals, certain chemicals, gold and coffee.
The US will also suspend country-specific additional tariffs on Swiss imports it deems important, based on Annex III to US Executive Order 14257 – the Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners (PTAAP) Annex. This list includes aircraft, generic pharmaceutical inputs, rubber products and cosmetics.
The framework deal also ensures that any future US sectoral tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors resulting from ongoing investigations under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act will be capped at 15%. This shields these products from excessively high sector-specific tariffs down the road.
Furthermore, Switzerland and the US will cooperate in key economic areas affected by Section 232 investigations or measures, working to further reduce and avoid additional tariffs.
Under the framework, Switzerland has confirmed it will continue applying zero duties on all US industrial products.
Switzerland is also eliminating tariffs on fish and seafood as well as on certain US agricultural goods that are not sensitive from an agricultural policy standpoint.
Switzerland will additionally provide the US with duty-free bilateral tariff quotas on selected US export products: 500 tonnes of beef, 1,000 tonnes of bison meat and 1,500 tonnes of poultry meat.
These tariff cuts align with Swiss agricultural policy goals and are not expected to hurt domestic production or Swiss prices.
Switzerland and the US have also agreed to cooperate on non-tariff barriers. This includes treating conformity assessment bodies the same as domestic ones and recognising certain US standards as a basis for technical regulations – making it easier to import US cars and medical devices.
A major part of the framework deal is Switzerland's commitment to encourage and facilitate at least USD 200 billion in investment by Swiss companies in the United States over the next five years. A third of this will be invested by the end of 2026, based on projects already in the pipeline.
Procurements are not covered by the joint declaration of intent.
During negotiations, Switzerland – after consulting with the private sector – signalled its intention to buy certain US goods.
These include public purchases like defence equipment and private purchases like energy supplies.
Switzerland's agricultural market access concessions do not affect products it considers sensitive.
Beef and poultry are sensitive sectors, so concessions were limited to bilateral tariff quotas to protect Swiss agricultural interests.
No significant impact on domestic production or prices is expected.
These include:
- Certain fruits (oranges, pineapples, grapefruit)
- Various fresh and dried nuts
- Certain alcoholic beverages (whiskey, rum, liqueur, beer)
- Food preparations like dietary supplements
- Tobacco products
- Coffee
Most of these come from tropical regions.
Switzerland has agreed to work with the US on specific measures to manage poultry imports. This does not mean Switzerland is accepting US food standards or production methods.
The Federal Council remains committed to domestic production as essential for food security. That said, Switzerland is not self-sufficient: for example, nearly 40% of the poultry consumed in Switzerland is already imported.
The federal government also prioritises public health and food safety, including for imported products.
Switzerland and the US intend to cooperate on streamlining sanitary requirements for labelling and certificates, particularly for beef, bison and dairy products.
This cooperation does not mean Switzerland will adopt US regulations or abandon its own standards.
The goal is to better align procedures and make cooperation smoother, while still meeting Switzerland's strict food safety requirements.
For approving individual vehicles for the Swiss market under Swiss law, Switzerland plans to simplify how it recognises US standards.
This does not mean adopting US regulations or committing to approve specific vehicle models.
Pharmaceuticals are currently exempt from additional tariffs but face an ongoing Section 232 investigation that could change this.
Under the framework, the US has committed to capping any additional tariffs on Swiss pharmaceuticals at 15%, if introduced.
The framework says Switzerland and the US will strengthen cooperation on economic security – specifically sanctions and export controls. It also sets out plans to cooperate on supply chains and inward foreign investment.
The framework does not oblige Switzerland to adopt US sanctions or other measures against third countries.
As a sovereign state, Switzerland decides independently – under its own laws – whether and where to adopt measures protecting its national interests.
The aim is to make significant progress and, if possible, conclude the agreement by the first quarter of 2026. This reflects both countries' desire to put trade relations on a solid footing.
Finalising the agreement depends on both sides reaching a satisfactory outcome.
The US customs regulation of 10 December 2025 applies retroactively from 14 November. The country-specific additional tariff for imports from Switzerland will be reduced to a maximum of 15%.
Swiss goods that were subject to a tariff rate of more than 15% before 2 April 2025 will be subject to their original baseline MFN tariff, without additional duties.
The existing exemptions from the general additional tariffs under Annex II to US Executive Order No 14257 will remain valid. This includes pharmaceuticals, certain chemicals, gold and coffee.
In addition, based on Annex III (Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners (PTAAP)) to US Executive Order No 14257, the US is lifting additional country-specific tariffs on Swiss imports that it deems significant, including aircraft, certain aviation-related parts, rubber products, cosmetics and generic drugs. The list has been published in the US Federal Register. Switzerland is seeking further exemptions.
The additional sectoral 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%.
Furthermore, Switzerland and the US will cooperate in key economic areas affected by Section 232 investigations or measures, working to further reduce and avoid additional tariffs.
The retroactive reduction in tariffs ensures that all customs clearances carried out in the United States and Switzerland since 14 November 2025 are subject to the new customs regulations. This is based on the joint statement signed by the two countries on that date, and on the respective decrees implementing it into national law. It ensures uniform treatment of customs clearances. Swiss exporters, in particular, will benefit from reduced US tariffs during the Christmas season.
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 19.12.2025
