as of 2022 should be able to import capital goods without payment of customs duties in Switzerland. This is the Federal Council the Parliament proposes. The Federal government expects a minimum revenue of 500 million Swiss francs. It is a measure to counter the high price island Switzerland.

With the abolition of industrial tariffs company benefited in the Switzerland of lower intermediate consumption and could reduce their production costs, according to the Federal Council in a communication. The trade relations as a whole would be more efficient, competition will be strengthened.

Stefan Brupbacher, Director of the Association of machine, electric and metal industry, Swissmem , welcomed the decision: “The MEM industries can save an annual amount of 125 million francs in customs duties.” The strength of the production facility in Switzerland. “In international competition, every franc counts!” Brupbacher says.

“Even according to the study, the Federal government the removal of the duties will not exceed 0.1 percent lower prices”Reto Wyss, speaker of the SGB

The decision of the Federal Council, is also intended to benefit the consumers. The today raised import duty on products such as cars, bicycles, personal care products, household appliances, footwear, or textiles and clothes would be dispensed with. In order to ensure that the relief is passed on to the consumers, wants to introduce the Federal Council Monitoring.

Exactly at the Benefit for the consumer, Reto Wyss, speaker of the Swiss Union Federal (SGB) doubts: “Even according to the extensive study of the Federal government the removal of the duties will not exceed 0.1 percent lower prices,” he says, “while the administrative expenses of the Swiss industry decreases with the customs Declaration only slightly.” In addition, going missing in future negotiations on the free trade agreement to be negotiated, if Switzerland abolishes the duties already one-sided.

Jan Atteslander, head of foreign economic Affairs of the economic umbrella organisation Economiesuisse, sees it differently: “it is Precisely in troubled times, in which the global risks for the Swiss economy to rise, can continue the policy with the unilateral removal of import duties on industrial products, an important character, and the economic and political environment improve.” Switzerland has today in the international comparison, the most complex customs system in the world.

In the past few years, the Federal government had taken an average of around 500 million Swiss francs per year from customs duties for industrial goods. The Federal Council expects that these failures are made by higher economic and trade activities, as well as additional tax revenues, partially offset. He calculated that the expected positive economic effects of around 860 million Swiss francs.

According to information of the Federal Council has been greeted by the template in the consultation process, “the majority without reservation”. Agriculture fears, however, a disadvantage in the negotiations of future free trade agreements.

The consumer protection questioned how the trade unions to the benefits for the consumers. The proposal has now been submitted to Parliament. This is true, should be repealed industrial tariffs at the beginning of 2022.

Created: 27.11.2019, 21:59 PM