The European Commission has confirmed the introduction of definitive countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEV) from China, with rates ranging from 17.4% to 35.3% depending on the manufacturer, in addition to the standard 10% duty.
This decision, motivated by an anti-subsidy investigation that established market-distorting Chinese state subsidies, has direct implications for Switzerland as well, despite the country not being a member of the European Union.
For Swiss importers, the situation is complex. Switzerland independently applies its own customs duties and has not currently adopted measures similar to those of the EU. This means that Chinese electric vehicles imported directly into Switzerland continue to benefit from standard tariff conditions.
However, for vehicles transiting through the EU before reaching Switzerland, or for those destined for re-export to EU markets, the new tariffs can significantly affect the logistics chain and final costs.
The automotive sector represents an important component of the freight volume managed by Franzosini SA. With our experience in vehicle transport and customs advisory, we are able to offer optimised logistics solutions that take into account the new tariff framework.
We advise our clients in the automotive sector to carefully evaluate import routes, consider direct importation into Switzerland to avoid EU duties, and verify the rules of origin for Chinese-manufactured components assembled in third countries.