Export to China

Exporting to China from Switzerland, methodically

The Chinese market remains among the most interesting for quality manufacturing. But access must be built: rules, requirements, timelines.

The Switzerland–China free trade agreement

Since 2014 Switzerland has had a free trade agreement with China, so far partial and subject to limitations. On 20.08.2026, with the new agreement signed by the two countries, free trade will be extended to all goods of Swiss origin with duty exemption at 99.8%, in practice with no taxation on exports.

Rules of origin

To obtain Swiss preferential origin you must meet specific technical criteria for each product category, documented by the certificate of origin. It is a matter of precise verification, not a formality: we tackle it with customs law professionals.

Duties: conditional opportunities

The combination of production in Switzerland and the free trade agreement can now reduce the impact of duties on exports to China compared with exporting from other countries. Each scenario must be calculated on the specific customs code: that is why our analysis always starts from data.

Sectors with the greatest potential

Machinery and precision instruments, medical devices, components, cosmetics and luxury goods, specialty chemicals and electronics: these are among the categories where Swiss quality most often meets Chinese demand.

Switzerland–China: free trade agreement

Switzerland and China have concluded negotiations to optimise the free trade agreement in force since 2014. The announcement came from the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), after the meeting in Bern between the President of the Confederation Guy Parmelin and the Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. Key points: — 99.8% of Swiss exports to China will be duty-free (today about half are) — Guaranteed access for Swiss investors to the Chinese market — Strengthened provisions on environment and workers' rights — Signature expected during 2026, after legal review and the approval procedures in both countries The negotiations, launched in September 2024, concluded after five rounds of talks. China is Switzerland's third trading partner after the European Union and the United States: with the improvement of the agreement, the Confederation aims to diversify export markets for Swiss companies.

Source: RSI — Swiss Radiotelevision, 20.08.2026 — read the original article

The information on this page is for general information purposes, is subject to updates and does not constitute legal, tax or customs advice. Every project is validated with qualified professionals before starting.

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