Tag Archive: global trade

Switzerland’s global trade falls off at start of year

2026-04-22

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2026-04-22

Swiss exports and imports declined in the first quarter of the year. The chemical and pharmaceutical sectors and exports to the United States were hardest hit. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Exports fell by 4.2% in the first three months of the year compared to the previous quarter, reaching CHF66.94 …

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Afghanistan’s Taliban tap Swiss, other travellers for flyover fees

2026-04-16

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2026-04-16

The Taliban are experiencing a windfall by collecting fees from passengers flying over Afghanistan. The move is bringing in tens of millions of dollars, including from Swiss travellers, without providing any service in return. Adapted routes Many more aircraft are currently flying over Afghanistan than before the Iran war. It is estimated that there are …

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From e-cigarettes to lab devices: surprising facts about Swiss patents

2026-04-15

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2026-04-15

Switzerland is the most innovative country in Europe in terms of patents, according to statistics from the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich. Swiss companies, researchers and developers registered 9,914 patents last year – more per capita than anywhere else. Here are the five most exciting points about the new statistics. 1 Roche beats Novartis …

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Switzerland hit by stricter EU steel import rules

2026-04-14

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2026-04-14

The Swiss steel industry is facing tougher European tariffs after the European Union tightened import rules to protect the industry. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox EU member states and parliament have agrred that in future the duty-free import volume for steel will be limited to 18.3 million tonnes per year, …

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Iran war impacts Swiss fuel pumps, tourism and economy

2026-04-01

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2026-04-01

Fuel prices in Switzerland are already being affected by the conflict in Iran, with the price of diesel rising by 22% to CHF2.13 per litre. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Unleaded 95 petrol rose by 11% to CHF1.82 and unleaded 98 petrol rose by 10% from CHF1.77 to CHF1.95, according …

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Switzerland eases egg import restrictions to meet rising demand

2026-04-01

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2026-04-01

The Swiss government will allow an extra 240 million eggs to be imported into the country with reduced tariffs from May 1. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The Federal Council is allowing more cheaper egg imports at the request of the Swiss egg industry to meet increased demand. The quota …

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US launches new trade investigation against Switzerland

2026-03-12

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2026-03-12

The US government is launching probes into numerous trade partners, including Switzerland, after US President Trump's tariff policy faced legal setbacks. The issue is whether structural overcapacity in manufacturing sectors in these countries is putting the US economy at a disadvantage. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In addition to …

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European investors snapped up Swiss SMEs in 2025

2026-03-03

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2026-03-03

Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain attractive to foreign buyers. An analysis by consultancy Deloitte shows that more Swiss SMEs were acquired by foreign investors in 2025 than ever before. Swiss public broadcaster SRF business editor Charlotte Jacquemart puts the figures into perspective. How many Swiss SMEs were acquired by foreign investors in 2025? …

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Swiss president calls for European economic cooperation

2026-02-27

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2026-02-27

At a meeting with the economic ministers of German-speaking countries in Zurich on Friday, Swiss president Guy Parmelin urged trade cooperation on the continent. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox European measures should not affect the interlinked supply and value chains. Cooperation and trust must be strengthened among like-minded people …

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Swiss lawmakers hold trade talks in US

2026-02-26

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2026-02-26

Swiss parliamentarians have staged talks with members of the United States Congress and business representatives in Washington to discuss prospects for a possible bilateral trade agreement. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox They were part of a delegation from the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Assiation (EFTA). Lawmakers …

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Switzerland to ban Russian LNG imports

2026-02-26

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2026-02-26

Switzerland will impose a complete ban on the purchase and import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from April 25, 2026. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The measure is part of the European Union's 19th sanctions package, which Switzerland has adopted. A transitional period until the end of 2026 …

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Swiss economy grew slightly at tail end of 2025

2026-02-16

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2026-02-16

The Swiss economy improved slightly in the fourth quarter of last year, with gross domestic product (GDP) up 0.2% on the previous quarter, according to an initial estimate from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Economists surveyed by the AWP agency were expecting …

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Switzerland ‘considers European alternative’ to Patriot missiles

2026-02-16

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2026-02-16

Switzerland is reportedly weighing up a European alternative to Patriot missiles following delays in the delivery of the United States defence system. Such a move could be contentious, considering the economic stakes and tensions with Washington. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Washington has postponed the delivery of five Patriot …

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Swiss central bank refutes US currency manipulation fears

2026-01-30

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2026-01-30

Switzerland remains on the United States watch list of possible currency manipulators, according to the Treasury Department's latest report. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has again refuted US suspicions. "The SNB is not manipulating the Swiss franc," Switzerland's central bank said in a statement …

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Switzerland demands unfettered metal trade with EU

2026-01-29

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2026-01-29

Switzerland has repeated demands for an exemption from planned European Union metal trade restrictions. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The EU plans to cut tariff-free steel import quotas by almost half. The extraordinary meeting of the Joint Committee on the free trade agreement between Switzerland and the European Union …

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Swiss trade surplus with US grew in 2025 despite tariffs

2026-01-29

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2026-01-29

Switzerland exported a record amount of goods to the United States last year despite a tariff dispute. Imports to Switzerland from the US fell, leading to a CHF41.1 billion trade surplus for the Alpine state. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Swiss customs reported a 3.9% rise in Swiss goods … Continue...

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Swiss pharma firm Roche posts increased 2025 revenue

2026-01-29

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2026-01-29

Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche posted total sales of CHF61.5 billion ($80.6 billion) last year, an increase of 2% from 2024. looks back on a successful financial year 2025. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Roche has met its own targets and the outlook for the future also promises further growth, …

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Bern and Washington to start trade negotiations ‘as soon as possible’

2026-01-22

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2026-01-22

Switzerland and the United States want to start the first round of negotiations for a trade agreement as soon as possible, according to Swiss economics minister Guy Parmelin. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The first round of negotiations will take place in Bern. Parmelin held "very constructive talks" with …

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Swiss President talks trade with Trump

2026-01-22

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2026-01-22

Swiss President Guy Parmelin has discussed trade relations with United States counterpart Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "Davos is not Davos without the US President," said Parmelin after the meeting. + Will Swiss shops be inundated with cheap, hormone-filled …

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Trump’s tariff threats are ‘a mistake,’ says von der Leyen at WEF

2026-01-20

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2026-01-20

The additional tariffs proposed by US President Trump are a mistake, declared European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF). She was reacting to the US President's threats if Greenland was not ceded to him. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "We …

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