Reduction in US additional tariffs to enter into force retroactively
Berne, 10.12.2025 — 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.
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 (see links).
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 (see links).
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.
Contact/Enquiries:
Technical enquiries:
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, International Movement of Goods
Federal Office for Customs and Border Security
· Origin: ursprung@bazg.admin.ch
· Tariff rate quotas: wirtschaft@bazg.admin.ch
· Customs refund: beschwerden@bazg.admin.ch
Web links:
SECO information on US additional tariffs and detailed information for companies:
https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/home/Aussenwirtschaftspolitik_Wirtschaftliche_Zusammenarbeit/Wirtschaftsbeziehungen/usa.html
FOCBS information and circular for Swiss importers on the implementation and application of customs reductions for US goods:
https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/de/home/themen/usa.html
FR: https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/fr/home/themes/usa.html
IT: https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/it/home/temi/usa.html
EN: https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/en/home/topics/usa.html
PDF Ordinances
Department responsible:
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER