Does my client in Switzerland still have to pay import duties?

Your Swiss customer no longer pays import duties for a wide range of manufactured products. From raw materials and components to appliances, machines, and motor vehicles. It does not matter whether these products are made in or outside the EU. Swiss clients do still pay import duties for agricultural products and foodstuffs. If you export these products to Switzerland, you must still include an EUR.1, EUR-MED or invoice declaration with your shipments.

Trade agreement with Switzerland

Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. If you export products to this country, the goods must pass customs in the EU and Switzerland. Usually, importers make the import declaration in Switzerland, after which they pay import duties. The EU has a trade agreement with Switzerland. This contains agreements on, for example, customs duties. So, Swiss importers pay lower import duties when they import agricultural products and foodstuffs from the EU. Or they may even pay nothing at all. 

Lower import duties

Would you like a discount or exemption from those import duties for your Swiss customer? This is possible with an EUR.1 or EUR-MED certificate from KVK or with an invoice declaration. Your product must then have been made or processed entirely or mostly in the EU. The rules for this are called preferential rules of origin. Are these certificates or declarations not with the shipment? Then your customer will pay the normal Swiss import rate. 

Other taxes

Apart from possible import duties, your Swiss customers always pay other taxes for importing products. For example, VAT or excise duty. This depends on the type of product you export.