| No coffee beans grow in Switzerland. Yet the country is the world’s second-largest exporter of coffee. How is that possible? Switzerland imports large quantities of green coffee beans and roasts them domestically. This process constitutes a “substantial transformation” of the product. Under international trade law, the coffee can therefore be classified as Swiss. But the coffee business also has a darker side. Historically, it is closely tied to colonialism. While Switzerland never had colonies of its own, Swiss entrepreneurs were involved in plantations, trade networks and the transport of enslaved people. Visit Swissinfo to read more. --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For more articles, interviews and videos visit swissinfo.ch or subscribe to our YouTube channel. |
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