2019 Investment Climate Statements: Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment

With the exception of a heavily protected agricultural sector, foreign investment into Switzerland is generally not hampered by significant barriers, with no reported discrimination against foreign investors or foreign-owned investments.  Incidents of trade discrimination do exist, for example with regards to agricultural goods such as bovine genetics products. Some city and cantonal governments offer access to an ombudsman, who may address a wide variety of issues involving individuals and the government, but does not focus exclusively on investment issues.

Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment

Foreign and domestic enterprises may engage in various forms of remunerative activities in Switzerland and may freely establish, acquire, and dispose of interests in business enterprises in Switzerland.  There are, however, some investment restrictions in areas under state monopolies, including certain types of public transportation, postal services, alcohol and spirits, aerospace and defense, certain types of insurance and banking services, and the trade in salt.  Restrictions (in the form of domicile requirements) also exist in air and maritime transport, hydroelectric and nuclear power, operation of oil and gas pipelines, and the transportation of explosive materials. Additionally, the following legal restrictions apply within Switzerland:

Corporate boards: The board of directors of a company registered in Switzerland must consist of a majority of Swiss citizens residing in Switzerland; at least one member of the board of directors who is authorized to represent the company (i.e., to sign legal documents) must be domiciled in Switzerland.  If the board of directors consists of a single person, this person must have Swiss citizenship and be domiciled in Switzerland. Foreign controlled companies usually meet these requirements by nominating Swiss directors who hold shares and perform functions on a fiduciary basis. Mitigating these requirements is the fact that the manager of a company need not be a Swiss citizen and, with the exception of banks, company shares can be controlled by foreigners.  The establishment of a commercial presence by persons or enterprises without legal status under Swiss law requires an establishment authorization according to cantonal law. The aforementioned requirements do not generally pose a major hardship or impediment for U.S. investors.

Hostile takeovers: Swiss corporate shares can be issued both as registered shares (in the name of the holder) or bearer shares.  Provided the shares are not listed on a stock exchange, Swiss companies may, in their articles of incorporation, impose certain restrictions on the transfer of registered shares to prevent hostile takeovers by foreign or domestic companies (article 685a of the Code of Obligations).  Hostile takeovers can also be annulled by public companies; however, legislation introduced in 1992 made this practice more difficult.  Public companies must cite in their statutes significant justification (relevant to the survival, conduct, and purpose of their business) to prevent or hinder a takeover by a foreign entity.  Furthermore, public corporations may limit the number of registered shares that can be held by any shareholder to a percentage of the issued registered stock. In practice, many corporations limit the number of shares to 2-5 percent of the relevant stock.  Under the public takeover provisions of the 2015 Federal Act on Financial Market Infrastructures and Market Conduct in Securities and Derivatives Trading and its 2019 amendments, a formal notification is required when an investor purchases more than 3 percent of a Swiss company’s shares.  An “opt-out” clause is available for firms which do not want to be taken over by a hostile bidder, but such opt-outs must be approved by a super-majority of shareholders and must take place well in advance of any takeover attempt.

Banking: Those wishing to establish banking operations in Switzerland must obtain prior approval from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), a largely independent agency, administered under the Swiss Federal Department of Finance.  FINMA promotes confidence in financial markets and works to protect customers, creditors, and investors. FINMA approval of bank operations is generally granted if the following conditions are met: reciprocity on the part of the foreign state; the foreign bank’s name must not give the impression that the bank is Swiss; the bank must adhere to Swiss monetary and credit policy; and a majority of the bank’s management must have their permanent residence in Switzerland.  Otherwise, foreign banks are subject to the same regulatory requirements as domestic banks.

Banks organized under Swiss law must inform FINMA before they open a branch, subsidiary, or representation abroad.  Foreign or domestic investors must inform FINMA before acquiring or disposing of a qualified majority of shares of a bank organized under Swiss law.  If exceptional temporary capital outflows threaten Swiss monetary policy, the Swiss National Bank, the country’s independent central bank, may require other institutions to seek approval before selling foreign bonds or other financial instruments.  On December 20, 2008, government deposit insurance of individual current accounts held in Swiss banks was raised from CHF 30,000 to CHF 100,000.

Insurance: A federal ordinance requires the placement of all risks physically situated in Switzerland with companies located in the country.  Therefore, it is necessary for foreign insurers wishing to provide liability coverage in Switzerland to establish a subsidiary or branch in-country.

U.S. investors have not identified any specific restrictions that create market access challenges for foreign investors.

Other Investment Policy Reviews

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) September 2017 Trade Policy Review of Switzerland and Liechtenstein includes investment information.  Other reports containing elements referring to the investment climate in Switzerland include the OECD Economic Survey of November 2017.

• Link to the WTO report: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm#bycountry  

• Link to the OECD reports / papers: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-economic-surveys-switzerland_19990464;jsessionid=174m5wrgvwd7j.x-oecd-live-02  

Business Facilitation

The Swiss government-affiliated non-profit organization Switzerland Global Enterprise (SGE) has a nationwide mandate to attract foreign business to Switzerland on behalf of the Swiss Confederation.  SGE promotes Switzerland as an economic hub and fosters exports, imports, and investments. Larger regional offices include the Greater Geneva-Berne Area (that covers large parts of Western Switzerland), the Greater Zurich Area, and the Basel Area.  Each canton has a business promotion office dedicated to helping facilitate real estate location, beneficial tax arrangements, and employee recruitment plans. These regional and cantonal investment promotion agencies do not require a minimum investment or job-creation threshold in order to provide assistance. However, these offices generally focus resources on attracting medium-sized entities that have the potential to create between 50 and 249 jobs in their region.

References:

• The Swiss government’s online portal (“easygov”) is Switzerland’s online registration website and includes links to the main local interlocutors for business related questions: https://www.easygov.swiss/easygov/#/  
• Switzerland Global Enterprise connects companies with potential host regions: https://www.s-ge.com/en/investment-promotion  
• Some of the larger promotion offices are:
  • Invest Western Switzerland Area: https://www.ggba-switzerland.ch/  
  • Greater Zurich Area: https://www.greaterzuricharea.com  
  • Basel Area: https://www.baselarea.ch/  

Switzerland has a dual system for granting work permits and allowing foreigners to create their own companies in Switzerland.  Employees who are citizens of the EU/EFTA area can benefit from the EU Free Movement of Persons Agreement. U.S. citizens who are not citizens of an EU/EFTA country and want to become self-employed in Switzerland must meet Swiss labor market requirements.  The criteria for admittance, usually not creating a hindrance for U.S. persons, are contained in the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals (FNA), the Decree on Admittance, Residence and Employment (VZAE) and the provisions of the FNA and the VZAE.

• The Federal Act on Foreign Nationals (FNA) (unofficial English translation): https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/20020232/index.html  
• Decree on Admittance, Residence and Employment (VZAE) (not available in English): https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified-compilation/20070993/index.html  
• Provisions of the FNA and the VZAE (not available in English): https://www.ejpd.admin.ch/dam/data/bfm/rechtsgrundlagen/weisungen/auslaender/weisungen-aug-d.pdf 

Setting up a company in Switzerland requires registration at the relevant cantonal Commercial Registry.  The cost for registering a company is typically USD 1,300 – USD 15,200, depending on the company type. These costs mainly cover the Public Notary and entry into the Commercial Registry.

Other steps/procedures for registration include: 1) placing paid-in capital in an escrow account with a bank; 2) drafting articles of association in the presence of a notary public; 3) filing a deed certifying the articles of association with the local commercial register to obtain a legal entity registration; 4) paying the stamp tax at a post office or bank after receiving an assessment by mail; 5) registering for VAT; and 6) enrolling employees in the social insurance system (federal and cantonal authorities).

The World Bank Doing Business Report 2019 ranks Switzerland 38th in the ease of doing business among the 190 countries surveyed, and  77th in the ease of starting a business, with a  six-step registration process and 10 days required to set up a company.

Outward Investment

While Switzerland does not explicitly promote or incentivize outward investment, Switzerland’s export promotion agency Switzerland Global Enterprise facilitates overseas market entry for Swiss companies through its Swiss Business Hubs in several countries, including the United States.  Switzerland does not restrict domestic investors from investing abroad.

The United States and Switzerland do not have a bilateral investment agreement (BIT).  Switzerland has concluded numerous investment protection treaties with developing and emerging market economies; over 112 BITs and 29 relevant Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with investment commitments are in force.

See the UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub for a full listing of BITs: https://investmentpolicyhub.unctad.org/IIA/CountryBits/203#iiaInnerMenu  

Currently, Switzerland is in various stages of discussions regarding FTAs with Algeria, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, MERCOSUR, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Switzerland concluded an Income Tax Treaty with the United States in 1996.  https://www.irs.gov/businesses/international-businesses/switzerland-tax-treaty-documents  

A 2009 Protocol to this Treaty – ratified by Switzerland but not by the U.S. Senate – has not yet entered into force.

Transparency of the Regulatory System

The Swiss government uses transparent policies and effective laws to foster a competitive investment climate.  Proposed laws and regulations are open for three-month public comment from interested parties, interest groups, cantons, and cities before being discussed within the bicameral parliament.  Proposals may be subject to facultative or automatic referenda that allow Swiss voters to reject or accept the proposals. Only in rare instances – such as the case of the extension of a moratorium until 2021 on planting GMO crops – are regulations reviewed on the basis of political or customer preferences rather than solely on the basis of scientific analysis.

Transparency of Public Finances and Debt Obligations

The Swiss government regularly publishes financial reports that provide transparency regarding planned expenditures and/or expenditures that have been approved and carried out, as well as projected and realized receipts.  Through its annual budgeting and financial planning exercises, the Swiss government approves expenditures and receipts and forecasts spending and revenue in the three years following the budget period. A financial plan is published every four years in accordance with the legislative period plan.  In addition, supplementary funding is submitted to parliament for urgent new tasks or budget extensions that do not emerge during the budget year. The Federal Council creates extrapolations outlining the probable annual results during a budget period and submits an account of the public finances to parliament the following year together with the federal financial statements.

International Regulatory Considerations

Switzerland is not a member of the European Union.  However, Switzerland adopts many EU standards.

The WTO concluded in 2017 that Switzerland has regularly notified its draft technical regulations, ordinances, and conformity assessment procedures to the WTO TBT Committee.  Switzerland has been a signatory to the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) since September 2, 2015.

Legal System and Judicial Independence

Swiss civil law is codified in the Swiss Civil Code (which governs the status of individuals, family law, inheritance law, and property law) and in the Swiss Code of Obligations (which governs contracts, torts, commercial law, company law, law of checks and other payment instruments).  Switzerland’s civil legal system is divided into public and private law. Public law governs the organization of the state, as well as the relationships between the state and private individuals or other entities, such as companies. Constitutional law, administrative law, tax law, criminal law, criminal procedure, public international law, civil procedure, debt enforcement, and bankruptcy law are sub-divisions of public law.  Private law governs relationships among individuals or entities. Intellectual property law (copyright, patents, trademarks, etc.) is an area of private law. Labor is governed by both private and public law.

All cantons have a high court, which includes a specialized commercial court in four cantons (Zurich, Bern, St. Gallen and Aargau).  The organization of the judiciary differs by canton; smaller cantons have only one court, while larger cantons have multiple courts.  Cantonal high court decisions can be appealed to the Swiss Supreme Court. The court system is independent, competent, and fair.

Switzerland is party to a number of bilateral and multilateral treaties governing the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.  The Lugano Convention, a multilateral treaty tying Switzerland to European legal conventions, entered into force in 2011 (replacing an older legal framework by the same name).  A set of bilateral treaties is also in place to handle judgments of specific foreign courts. While no such agreement is in place between the United States and Switzerland, Switzerland operates under the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Law, meaning local courts must enforce international arbitration awards under specific circumstances.

Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment

The major laws governing foreign investment in Switzerland are the Swiss Code of Obligations, the Lex Friedrich/Koller, Switzerland’s Securities Law, the Cartel Law and the Financial Market Infrastructure Act.  There is no specific screening of foreign investment beyond a normal anti-trust review. Citing Switzerland’s existing comprehensive and effective set of rules to prevent unwanted takeovers in critical infrastructure sectors,  the Federal Council decided on February 19, 2019 against adopting an investment screening mechanism, arguing it would not bring additional benefits to Switzerland, and recommended maintaining the status quo with further monitoring and review of the situation over four years.  There are few sectoral or geographic incentives or restrictions; exceptions are described below in the section on performance requirements and incentives.

Some former public monopolies retain their historical market dominance despite partial or full privatization. Foreign investors sometimes find it difficult to enter these markets due to high entry costs and the relatively small size and linguistic divisions of the Swiss market (e.g., certain types of public transportation, postal services, alcohol and spirits, aerospace and defense, certain types of insurances and banking services, and the trade in salt).

There is no pronounced interference in the court system that should affect foreign investors.

Useful websites:

• The Swiss Code of Obligations, including an unofficial English translation: https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19110009/index.html  
• Information on the acquisition of property in Switzerland by persons abroad: https://www.bj.admin.ch/dam/data/bj/wirtschaft/grundstueckerwerb/lex-e.pdf 
• The Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading (unofficial English translation): https://www.six-swiss-exchange.com/download/participants/participation/education/sesta-stock-exchange-act-en.pdf 
• The Federal Act on Financial Market Infrastructures and Market Conduct in Securities and Derivatives Trading (Unofficial English translation): https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/20141779/index.html  
• The Federal Act on Cartels and other Restraints of Competition including an unofficial English translation: https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19950278/index.html  
• Switzerland Global Enterprise provides a “handbook for investors” with the relevant laws: https://www.s-ge.com/en/publication/handbook-investors/handbook-investors  

Competition and Anti-Trust Laws

The Swiss Competition Commission   and the Swiss Takeover Board   review competition-related concerns.  In 2017, the Swiss Takeover Board concluded that Chinese conglomerate HNA had failed to list the HNA co-founders correctly as beneficial owners in its acquisition prospectus of Swiss airline caterer gategroup Holding AG and tasked the Swiss financial regulator and stock exchange with investigating potential breaches of Swiss financial regulations.  HNA was found guilty and was sentenced to pay a financial penalty of CHF 50,000 (USD 50,000).

Expropriation and Compensation

There are no known cases of expropriation within Switzerland.

Dispute Settlement

ICSID Convention and New York Convention

Switzerland has been a member of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) since June 14, 1968, and a member of the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Law since June 1, 1965.  Switzerland’s Federal Act on Private International Law (Art. 190 and 194) sets a minimum standard for the implementation of international arbitration awards in Switzerland.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Based on Switzerland’s membership in the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Law, local courts are entitled to enforce international arbitration awards.  According to Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Switzerland has never been a party to an investment dispute involving international arbitration.

International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts

Swiss courts recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards in the framework of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards  .  Post has no knowledge of any investor disputes in Switzerland involving U.S. persons within the last 10 years.

As business associations organized at the cantonal level, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, of Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Neuchâtel, and Zurich have established the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution.  This entity offers dispute resolution based on Swiss Rules of International Arbitration and Swiss Rules of Commercial Mediation. According to the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution, 100 cases were submitted in 2015 (latest available data); 89 of these cases involved foreign parties.

Bankruptcy Regulations

Switzerland’s bankruptcy law does not criminalize bankruptcy.  Under the bankruptcy law, the same rights and obligations apply to foreign and Swiss contract holders.

Swiss authorities provide information about Swiss residents and companies regarding debts registered with the debt collection register.

The World Bank’s 2019 “Doing Business” survey ranks Switzerland 46th out of 190 countries in resolving insolvency.  The average time to close a business in Switzerland is three years (compared to 1.7 years average across the OECD), with an average of 46.7 cents on the dollar recovered by claimants from insolvent firms (compared to 71.2 cents OECD average).

The Swiss Federal Statute on Private International Law (PILS, Art. 166-175, in force since January 1, 1989) governs Swiss recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings, including bankruptcies, foreign composition, and arrangements.  Swiss law requires reciprocity for recognition of foreign insolvency.

Federal Statute on Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy of 11 April 1889 (https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/details.jsp?id=17092   in German, French and Italian).

Investment Incentives

Many of Switzerland’s cantons make significant use of financial incentives to attract investment to their jurisdictions.  Some of the more forward-leaning cantons have occasionally waived taxes for new firms for up to ten years. However, this practice has been criticized by the OECD and European Union.  To satisfy OECD and EU standards, the Federal Council proposed the “Corporate Tax Reform III” (later renamed “Tax Reform and AHV Financing” (TRAF), which was approved by the Swiss parliament on September 28, 2018 and was accepted by 64.4 percent of Swiss voters in a May 19, 2019 popular vote.  Left-leaning parties had successfully organized opposition to CTR III, arguing that the proposed reform would benefit business while creating a tax revenue shortfall that would ultimately be borne by individual households.  TRAF appeased some on the Left by including a provision for the federal government to boost Swiss pension system (AHV) funding by CHF 2 billion (USD 2 billion) annually.  The Swiss Finance Ministry notes, however, that this injection will not resolve the structural problem that the pay-as-you-go AHV system is facing.  Green Party leaders criticized TRAF’s passage in Swiss media, stressing that an anticipated CHF 2 billion (USD 2 billion) tax revenue shortfall created by the tax reform would ultimately affect social services, regardless of the government’s additional AHV financing.  TRAF’s proponents have argued that greater investment and job growth resulting from the lower tax rates would likely offset the revenue shortfall. Whatever the economic reasoning, commentators note sweetening the pension pot favorably impacted some voters’ view of the tax reform law.

Entering into force on January 1, 2020, TRAF will oblige Swiss cantons to offer the same corporate tax rates to both Swiss and foreign companies, but will allow cantons to continue to set their own cantonal rates and offer incentives for corporate investment through deductions and preferential tax treatment for certain types of income.  Observers note that tax-friendly cantons such as Zug will likely remain competitive for foreign investment by continuing to offer aggressive incentives.  Swiss firms will also likely benefit, as overall cantonal tax rates are expected to decrease under TRAF.

The new proposed corporate tax code aims to create an internationally compliant, competitive tax system for companies while strengthening the AHV (Swiss pension scheme).  The TRAF tax reform is intended to safeguard the appeal and competitiveness of Switzerland as a business location and secure jobs and tax receipts in the medium to longer term.  In addition, the proposal will generate additional receipts for the AHV, thus helping to secure pensions. If approved by the Swiss public, TRAF would enter into force on January 1, 2020, abolishing special tax privileges that only apply to foreign firms and establishing a level playing field between Swiss and foreign companies, while allowing cantons to offer various tax deductions to incentivize investment.  Many cantons have already lowered their overall corporate tax rate independently of the reform to accommodate foreign companies. Zurich, which is sometimes used as a reference point for corporate location tax calculations within Switzerland, has a combined corporate tax rate of roughly 25 percent, including municipal, cantonal, and federal tax.

Individual income tax rates also vary widely across the 26 cantons.

Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation

Switzerland’s free ports remain an important hub particularly for art works and collectibles from all over the world.  The country has taken steps in recent years to minimize the risks of abuse in free ports and to ensure that processes are in line with international standards.

Performance and Data Localization Requirements

There are no “forced localization” laws designed to require foreign investors to use domestic content in goods or technology (e.g., data storage within Switzerland).  In a June 2017 court decision regarding a February 2014 Federal Council decision to exclude a foreign competitor from bidding on services related to the government’s critical infrastructure, the court ruled in favor of the Swiss State-Owned Enterprise involved in the bid.  U.S. companies have to date not voiced concerns.

Switzerland follows strict privacy laws and certain data may not be collected in Switzerland, as it is deemed personal and particularly “worthy of protection.”  The collection of certain data may need to be registered at the office of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner. Some foreign companies have located data centers in Switzerland due to the country’s strict privacy rules and neutrality.  On April 1, 2018, FINMA published an outsourcing circular clarifying regulations for data storage for the banking and insurance sector at: https://www.finma.ch/en/documentation/circulars/  

Real Property

Physical property rights are recognized and enforced within Switzerland, which currently ranks 16th out of 190 countries in the ease of transferring and registering property, according to the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2019.

Intellectual Property Rights

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO’s) World Intellectual Property Indicators, in 2017 Switzerland ranked 8th globally in filing patents, 11th in industrial designs, and 14th in trademarks, which reflects Switzerland’s overall strong protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR).  In 2016, USTR placed Switzerland on its Special 301 Watch List due to concerns regarding specific difficulties in Switzerland’s system of online copyright protection.  A legal proposal to address these issues was sent to parliament in November 2017. If the proposed draft law now being debated is approved by parliament, the amended law is expected to provide right holders with necessary tools to limit online piracy, including stay-down obligations for Swiss internet hosting providers and allow the use of IP addresses to file complaints against illegal uploaders.  If approved by parliament in 2019, the revised Copyright Act is expected to enter into force in 2020.

Federal customs authorities in Switzerland have the authority to seize counterfeit goods, upon request from the IPR holder or from related interest groups (e.g., professional associations).  Goods can be seized for 10 days if there is reasonable suspicion that they are counterfeit. Provisional measures can also be obtained from a Swiss court to ensure evidence is not destroyed. If the destruction of goods is requested by an IPR holder, the owner of the goods can dispute that claim in writing within 10 days.  In 2018, Swiss customs conducted 1,682 interventions and seized counterfeit goods valued at USD 20 million (excluding pharmaceuticals, which are tracked separately).  Of the goods seized at the Swiss border, 86.2 percent included bags, watches, jewelry and glasses.  In 2018, a total of 3,203 pharmaceutical consignments, which included both counterfeit and excess items, were reported to Swissmedic, the surveillance authority for medicines and medical devices.  42 percent of the seized consignments came from India.

Detailed information is available on Swiss Customs website: https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home/documentation/publications/fakten_und_zahlen.html  

For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at https://www.wipo.int/directory/en/  .

Resources for Rights Holders

Thomas (Toby) Wolf, Economic/Commercial Officer
Theodore Fisher, Economic/Commercial Officer
Nadia Nadalin, Economic Assistant
U.S. Embassy in Bern, Sulgeneckstrasse 19, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
+41 31 357 7319
Email: Business-bern@state.gov

Country / Economy resources

Swiss American Chamber of Commerce
Talacker 41
8001 Zurich
+41 43 443 72 00
Email: info@amcham.ch

Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment

The Swiss government’s attitude toward foreign portfolio investment and market structures is positive, resulting in high global rankings by many indices.

The SIX Swiss stock exchange based in Zurich is one of the top stock markets worldwide based on market capitalization.

Money and Banking System

Switzerland is home to a sophisticated banking system that provides a high degree of service to both foreign and domestic entities.  Switzerland also has an effective regulatory system that encourages and facilitates portfolio investment. Domestic and foreign bidders are treated equally when it comes to hostile takeovers within Switzerland.  The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), a trade association of almost 300 member financial institutions, estimated that Switzerland’s banks held assets amounting to approximately USD 7 trillion in 2018, almost half of which belong to foreigners.  The largest banks, UBS and Credit Suisse, each hold about USD 1 trillion in assets, while Raiffeisen Switzerland holds about USD 220 billion and Zurich Cantonal Bank holds roughly USD 172 billion. Swiss banks maintain a high ratio of deposit assets when compared with the country’s GDP (178 percent), a measure of the strength of the financial system.  Switzerland also maintains an independent central bank – the Swiss National Bank (SNB).

U.S. citizens who are resident in Switzerland may face difficulties in opening bank accounts at smaller Swiss banks as a result of the administrative costs of complying with additional regulatory and administrative procedures required for U.S. related person accounts under accepted disclosure rules.

The Swiss government created a blockchain task force in January 2018 to foster cooperation between the traditional banking sector and the nascent industry and to discuss potential legal and regulatory reforms to attract blockchain technologies while maintaining anti-money laundering controls.  In December 2018, the Swiss government endorsed a report on the legal framework for blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) in the financial sector with the goal of creating favorable conditions for Switzerland to establish itself and evolve as a leading location for fintech and DLT companies.  On March 22, 2019, the Swiss government initiated consultations on adapting federal legislation to recent developments in DLT.

Several associations provide information about Swiss banks that offer services to U.S. clients:

• https://www.amcham.ch/publications/p_publications.asp?publication=Other percent20Chamber percent20Publications  
• https://americanswelcome-expats.swiss/list-of-swiss-banks.php  

Foreign Exchange and Remittances

Foreign Exchange

On January 15, 2015 the Swiss National Bank (SNB) abandoned the Swiss franc’s euro peg (1.20 CHF/EUR).  In the wake of the SNB’s announcement, the franc increased over 30 percent in value against the euro. The franc currently trades at around 1.13 CHF/EUR.  The Swiss franc trades around parity with the dollar, with one Swiss franc equaling 0.9986 USD (as of 04/04/2019).

Since 2015, the SNB has attempted to prevent further strengthening of the Swiss franc by instituting a negative interest rate for commercial bank deposits at the SNB, currently -0.75 percent, while continuing an expansionary monetary policy through intervention in the foreign currency market.  As of March 21, 2019, the SNB maintained its assessment that the Swiss franc is “highly valued.” The strength of the franc has lowered effective prices of imports to Switzerland, but it also has harmed Swiss competitiveness as an export-oriented economy. In 2018, the Swiss franc remained fairly stable against the euro and the U.S. dollar.

Remittance Policies

There are currently no restrictions on converting, repatriating, or transferring funds associated with an investment (including remittances of capital, earnings, loan repayments, lease payments, royalties) into a freely usable currency and at the a legal market clearing rate.

Sovereign Wealth Funds

Switzerland does not have a sovereign wealth fund or an asset management bureau.

The Swiss Confederation is the largest or sole shareholder in Switzerland’s five State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), active in the areas of ground transportation (SBB), information and communication (Swiss Post, Swisscom), defense (RUAG – currently slated for a split and partial privatization), and aerospace (Skyguide).  These companies are typically responsible for “public function mandates,” but may also cover commercial activities (e.g., Swisscom in the area of telecommunications). SOEs typically have commercial relationships with private industry; Swisscom and RUAG are also active in foreign markets. Private sector competitors can compete with SOEs under the same terms and conditions with respect to access to markets, credit, and other business operations.  Additional SOEs controlled by the cantons are active in the areas of energy, water supply, and a number of subsectors. SOEs may benefit from exclusive rights and privileges (some of which are listed in Table A 3.2 of the WTO Trade Policy Review https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp455_e.htm  .

Switzerland is a party to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).  Some areas are partly or fully exempted from the GPA, such as the management of drinking water, energy, transportation, telecommunications, and defense.  Private companies may encounter difficulties gaining business in these exempted sectors.

Privatization Program

In the aftermath of a 2016 cyberattack, the Federal Council reviewed RUAG’s structure in light of cybersecurity concerns for the Swiss military and decided in June 2018 to split the company. As of January 1, 2020, RUAG will divide its corporate structure into MRO Switzerland, which will serve the Swiss Armed Forces, and RUAG International, which will be partially privatized and will focus on aerospace technology.

The Swiss Confederation and Swiss companies are generally aware of the importance of pursuing due diligence to responsible business conduct (RBC) and demonstrating corporate social responsibility (CSR).  In response to criticism from civil society about the business practices of Swiss companies abroad, the Swiss government commissioned a series of reports on the government’s role in ensuring CSR, particularly in the commodities sector, and in December 2016 published a national action plan in conjunction with its commitments under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-64884.html  ).  In June 2017, the Swiss government report on the progress of the action plan concluded that Switzerland promotes voluntary principles, such as the upholding of human rights standards, and also supports including mandatory CSR market incentives, such as minimum conditions for the protection of workers abroad, in forthcoming legislation.

The latest updates on corporate social responsibility are available on https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/home/Aussenwirtschaftspolitik_Wirtschaftliche_Zusammenarbeit/Wirtschaftsbeziehungen/Gesellschaftliche_Verantwortung_der_Unternehmen.html  

There is ongoing political debate over whether Swiss courts should exercise jurisdiction over alleged human rights and environmental abuses by Swiss companies abroad. On March 12, 2019, the Swiss Senate voted narrowly to reject talks on a counter-proposal on responsible business put forward by the Lower House of Parliament.  The debate may culminate in an eventual vote on a popular initiative, known as the “Responsible Business Initiative” (RBI), in which Swiss citizens will decide whether to adopt or reject a partial revision of the Swiss Constitution that aims to introduce a specific provision on responsible business (https://www.bk.admin.ch/ch/f/pore/vi/vis462t.html  ).

Switzerland ranked 1st out of 180 countries in the 2018 Yale University-based Environmental Performance Index (EPI).

The Swiss government implements the OECD Due Diligence Guide for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict and High Risk Areas.  Switzerland is a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and supports the Better Gold Initiative, which promotes responsible gold mining in Peru, with plans to expand to Bolivia and Colombia.  Switzerland’s Point of Contact for the OECD Guidelines at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) within the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research, may be contacted at: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/ncps/switzerland.htm  

Information about the Swiss Better Gold Association: https://www.swissbettergold.ch/en/about  

Switzerland has signed a number of nonbinding agreements outlining best practices for corporations, including the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers.

Under Swiss law, officials are not to accept anything that would “challenge their independence and capacity to act.”  According to the law, the range of permissible receipt of “individual advantages” is a sliding scale, depending on the role of the official.  Some officials may receive advantages up to several hundred Swiss francs, while others may receive no advantages at all (e.g., those working for financial regulators).  The upper limit value for gifts, such as champagne or watches, is a grey area that varies according to department and canton. Transparency International has recommended that at the federal level a maximum sum should be set.

The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implements these laws effectively.  Investigating and prosecuting government corruption is a federal responsibility. A majority of cantons requires members of cantonal parliaments to disclose their interests.  A joint working group comprising representatives of various federal government agencies works under the leadership of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to combat corruption.  Some multinationals have assisted with the fight against corruption by setting up internal hotlines to enable staff to report problems anonymously.

On September 24, 2009, Switzerland ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption.  Swiss Government experts believe this ratification did not result in significant domestic changes, since passive and active corruption of public servants was already considered a crime under the Swiss Criminal Code (Art. 322).

A Group of States against Corruption (GRECO, Council of Europe) review in March 2017 recommended the adoption of a code of ethics/conduct, together with awareness-raising measures, for members of the federal parliament, judges, and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to avoid conflict of interests.  These measures needed to be accompanied by a reinforced monitoring of members of parliament’s compliance with their obligations. In March 2018, the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions recommended that Switzerland adopt an appropriate legal framework to protect private sector whistleblowers from discrimination and disciplinary action, to ensure that sanctions imposed for foreign bribery against natural and legal persons are effective, proportionate, and dissuasive, and to ensure broader and more systematic publication of concluded foreign bribery cases.  The OECD Working Group positively highlighted Switzerland’s proactive policy on seizure and confiscation, its active involvement in mutual legal assistance, and its role as a promoter of cooperation in field of foreign bribery. Regarding detection, the OECD Working Group commended the key role played by the Swiss Financial Intelligence Unit (MROS) in detecting foreign bribery.

A number of Swiss federal administrative authorities are involved in combating bribery.  The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) deals with issues relating to the OECD Convention.  The Federal Office of Justice deals with those relating to the Council of Europe Convention, while the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (MFA) deals with the UN Convention.  The power to prosecute and judge corruption offenses is shared between the relevant Swiss canton and the Swiss federal government. For the federal government, the competent authorities are the Office of the Attorney General, the Federal Criminal Court, and the Federal Police.  In the cantons, the relevant actors are the cantonal judicial authorities and the cantonal police forces.

UN Anticorruption Convention, OECD Convention on Combatting Bribery

In February 2001, Switzerland signed the Council of Europe’s Criminal Law Convention on Corruption.  In 1997, Switzerland signed the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which entered into force on May 1, 2000.  Switzerland signed the UN Convention against Corruption in December 2003. Switzerland ratified the UN Anticorruption Convention on September 24, 2009.

In order to implement the Council of Europe’s convention, the Swiss parliament amended the Penal Code to make bribery of foreign public officials a federal offense (Title Nineteen “Bribery”); these amendments entered into force on May 1, 2000.  In accordance with the revised 1997 OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the Swiss parliament amended legislation on direct taxes of the Confederation, cantons, and townships to prohibit the tax deductibility of bribes; these amendments became effective on January 1, 2001.

Switzerland maintains an effective legal and policy framework to combat domestic corruption.  U.S. firms investing in Switzerland have not raised with the Embassy any corruption concerns in recent years.  Offering or accepting bribes in Switzerland is subject to criminal and civil penalties, including imprisonment for up to five years.

Resources to Report Corruption

Government Agency Contact:

Michel Huissoud
Director, Swiss Federal Audit Office
Monbijoustrasse 45
3003 Bern / Switzerland
Ph. +41 58 463 10 35
Messages can be submitted via https://www.bkms-system.ch/bkwebanon/report/clientInfo?cin=5efk11  

“Watchdog” Organization Contact:

Martin Hilti
Executive Director, Transparency International Switzerland
Schanzeneckstrasse 25
P.O. Box 8509
3001 Bern / Switzerland
Ph. +41 31 382 3550
E-Mail: info@transparency.ch

Political violence in Switzerland is rare.  It is perpetrated by representatives of both left- and right-wing groups, including nuclear power opponents and neo-Nazi groups.  In April 2011, a letter bomb targeting employees of a nuclear power lobbying organization exploded. A group of Turkish nationalists clashed with a group of Kurdish independence supporters on the streets of Bern (the nation’s political capital) in 2015.  During the resulting violence, two protestors were killed and a number of people were injured. Lower-level clashes between left-wing demonstrators and the police happen several times a year, but violence is directed at police officers rather than businesses or members of the public.

The Swiss labor force is highly educated and highly skilled.  The Swiss economy is capital intensive and geared toward high value-added products and services.  In 2018, 76.6 percent of the workforce was employed in services, 20.3 percent in manufacturing, and 3.1 percent in agriculture.  Full-time work compared to part-time work is more prevalent among foreign workers than among Swiss workers: 73 percent of the foreign working population work full-time, while only 60 percent of their Swiss peers work full-time.  Wages in Switzerland are among the highest in the world. Switzerland continues to observe International Labor Organization (ILO) core conventions. Government regulations cover maximum work hours, minimum length of holidays, sick leave, compulsory military service, contract termination, and other requirements.  There is no minimum wage law.

Foreigners fill not only low-skilled, low-wage jobs, but also highly technical positions in the manufacturing and service industries.  Foreigners account for 31.2 percent of Switzerland’s labor force estimated at about 5 million people. Many foreign nationals are long-time Swiss residents who have not applied for or been granted Swiss citizenship.  Foreign seasonal workers take many low-wage jobs in agriculture.

In a February 9, 2014 national initiative, Swiss voters decided to impose limits on immigration, via parliamentary action, which could have negated the Swiss-EU Free Movement of Persons Agreement and carried potentially significant implications for the immigrant-dependent labor market.  In the wake of the 2014 immigration referendum, the government introduced a series of measures aimed at bringing into the labor market traditionally underemployed groups – women, older job seekers, refugees, and temporarily accepted asylum seekers. In December 2016, the parliament responded to the 2014 initiative by legislating a requirement that companies in sectors with more than 5 percent unemployment provide information on job openings to government-run employment centers.  These centers would provide employers with suitable candidates, which employers would be required to interview before filling a job. However, registration at the employment centers would be open to cross-border commuters and EU residents at large, thus blunting the effect of the legislation, which was implemented by the Federal Council as of July 2018.

Switzerland generally prohibits commerce on Sunday.  Swiss voters narrowly accepted a 2005 revision of the Swiss Federal labor law in order to provide flexible working hours, such as Sunday openings in major railway stations and airports.  Shopping hours outside of these locations remain mainly regulated by cantonal laws. Employees in the retail sector and in restaurants and bars, in cooperation with other interests, have been successful in resisting the easing of the federal and cantonal laws governing opening hours, but in recent years the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has loosened work restrictions on Sundays in a few specific instances, for example in allowing for a limited number of outlet malls to be open on Sundays.

Approximately a quarter of Switzerland’s full-time workers are unionized.  Labor-management relations are generally constructive, with a willingness on both sides to settle disputes by negotiation rather than labor action.  According to the Federal Office of Statistics, some 602 collective agreements exist in Switzerland today, of which approximately 61.5 percent concern the services sector, 37.5 percent the manufacturing sector, and 1 percent the agricultural sector; these are usually renewed without major difficulties.  Trade unions continue to promote a wider coverage of collective agreements for the Swiss labor force. Although the number of workdays lost to strikes in Switzerland is among the lowest in the OECD, Swiss trade unions have encouraged workers to strike on several occasions in recent years. In difficult economic times, employers may temporarily shift their full-time employees to part-time by registering with cantonal authorities and justifying reductions as necessary to business activities.  Employees can reject the shift to part-time work, but risk dismissal. Responsibility for establishing and enforcing rules for part-time work ultimately belongs to the Federal Council, the seven-member executive of the Swiss government.

The prohibition on strikes by Swiss public servants was generally repealed in 2000, although restrictions remain in place in a few cantons.  The Federal Council may now only restrict or prohibit the right to strike where it affects the security of the state, external relations, or the supply of vital goods to the country.

Switzerland’s average unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in 2018 (according to the ILO), or 2.6 percent according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), using a different methodology.  The average unemployment rate was 5.9 percent for foreigners and 3.5 percent for Swiss citizens in 2017 (according to the ILO). All cantons bordering EU countries experience higher unemployment rates than Switzerland as a whole.  The unemployment rate of younger workers aged 15-24 is slightly below the average unemployment rate (2.4 percent, SECO), and the rate for older employees (50-64 years) is slightly higher (2.5 percent, SECO). According to Swiss labor statistics, 85 percent of unemployed workers found a new position within 12 months in 2017.

Switzerland does not have a free trade agreement with the United States and no agreed bilateral labor standards.

There is no OPIC agreement between the U.S. and Switzerland.  Switzerland is a member of the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); the country has not signed a political risk insurance agreement with any Western European country or the United States.

Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/Economy

Average exchange rate for 2017: 1 USD = 0.985 CHF
*Sources: Swiss National Bank   / Federal Office of Statistics  
**According to the OECD
***Significant statistical discrepancies are due to methodological differences in measuring foreign direct investment.  Data most recently available.

As the OECD Benchmark Definition of Foreign Investment concludes, there “are two possible approaches to identify the home country (of the direct investor) for inward FDI and the host country (of the direct investment enterprise) for outward FDI:

• by immediate host country/investing country (IHC/IIC)
• by ultimate host country/ultimate investing country (UHC/UIC)

Switzerland uses the immediate investing country approach (IIC) and the United States uses the more complex ultimate investing country approach (UIC).  The OECD  report explains in detail how the two different approaches generate different figures.

Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDI

Table 4: Sources of Portfolio Investment

Thomas (Toby) Wolf, Economic/Commercial Officer
Theodore Fisher, Economic/Commercial Officer
Nadia Nadalin, Economic Assistant
U.S. Embassy in Bern, Sulgeneckstrasse 19, 3003 Bern
+41 31 357 7319
Email: Business-bern@state.gov