Switzerland's economic and trade relations with the EU are mainly governed by a series of bilateral agreements where Switzerland has agreed to take over certain aspects of EU legislation in exchange for accessing part of the EU's single market.
The cornerstone of EU-Swiss relations is the Free Trade Agreement of 1972.
In 1999 seven sectoral agreements were signed, known as ‘Bilaterals I’. They cover
A further set of sectoral agreements signed in 2004 (‘Bilaterals II’) covers
There are more than 100 bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland, managed by over 20 joint committees. The agreements oblige Switzerland to take over relevant EU legislation in the sectors covered.
In return for its partial integration in the EU's single market, Switzerland pays a financial contribution to economic and social cohesion in the EU Member States that joined after 2004.
EU-Swiss trade-related agreements
Find the applicable tariff rate for your product in My Trade Assistant.
The EU is Switzerland's main trading partner, and Switzerland is the EU's fourth largest trading partner.
More on the EU-Switzerland trade relations.
In order to qualify for preferential treatment (lower or no Customs duty), your product needs to comply with certain rules that define its origin, the rules of origin, which are laid down in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention
Please check the interactive “Rules of Origin Self Assessment tool (ROSA)” in My Trade Assistant to assess whether your product fulfils the rules of origin and find out how to prepare the correct documents. More information on how to use ROSA is available.