US Tariffs

Swiss Medtech News Ticker

30.06.2026

Federal Council Submits a Statement to the U.S. Trade Representative – Swiss Economy Needs Legal Certainty
As part of the economic and scientific mission to the United States, Swiss President Guy Parmelin presented U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer with a statement on the further implementation of the Joint Statement concluded last November. Among other things, the plan calls for simplifications in the recognition of U.S. standards in the areas of conformity assessment bodies, medical devices, passenger cars, and public procurement.

Mutual compliance with the Joint Statement and a maximum tariff rate of 15 percent remain crucial for the Swiss export sector. Uncertainties persist due to ongoing U.S. Section 301 investigations, which could result in additional trade policy measures.

Details can be found at website of economiesuisse.

03.06.2026

USA announces new tariffs under Section 301 - 12.5 percent for Switzerland
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has announced new tariffs on a total of 60 countries under Section 301: Switzerland and most other major trading partners - including Japan, China, South Korea and Brazil - are to pay 12.5 percent. An import levy of 10 percent is planned for the EU, the UK, Canada, Mexico and Taiwan. Greer justifies the proposal by arguing that trading partners are doing too little to prevent imports of goods from forced labor. The tariffs are not yet definitive: a consultation will run until July 6, 2026.

06.05.2026, 15h00 – 16h00

🖥️Webinaire: IEEPA Refund Process: First Experiences and Outlook
Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) is hosting a webinar on the reimbursement process for IEEPA tariffs declared unlawful by the U.S. Supreme Court. S-GE will explain how and by whom reimbursement claims can be filed and share initial practical experiences. The webinar will be held in English.

About the webinar

17.04.2026

US Customs introduces a new procedure for IEEPA refunds as of 20 April
From April 20, 2026, the US Customs Service will introduce a new digital process (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, CAPE) to process refunds of IEEPA duties more quickly and easily. CAPE is a centralized framework within the ACE portal that allows importers of record and customs brokers to electronically submit, validate and process IEEPA drawback claims. Refunds can be bundled and include interest, provided that the imports concerned meet the requirements (e.g. not yet or only recently cleared through customs).

Details on the requirements for refunds and recommended preparation steps for companies can be found at website of Switzerland Global Enterprise.

24.03.2026, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m

🖥️Swiss Medtech Webinar: Refund of U.S. IEEPA Tariffs – What Swiss Medtech Companies Need to Know
Join a Swiss Medtech webinar on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated tariffs imposed under IEEPA. The U.S. Court of International Trade has also ordered that duties already paid must be refunded. Legal experts and trade policy specialists will explain what these decisions mean for Swiss Medtech exporters and how companies can claim refunds.

Since 2025, more than USD 165 billion in IEEPA tariffs have been collected, making the potential for refunds significant. Companies should act quickly to protect their claims. Medtech experts will also share practical insights on the challenges and opportunities ahead for Swiss Medtech companies.

Recording and presentation

04.03.2026

⚠️Important: Refund of IEEPA-based additional duties
U.S. trade court orders refund of unlawful IEEPA duties: On March 4, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that IEEPA-based additional duties previously collected must be refunded in certain cases. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been instructed to implement the necessary adjustments and to begin issuing refunds to the respective Importers of Record. For Swiss exporters and their U.S. import partners, it is now advisable to review the liquidation status of affected imports and monitor any applicable deadlines.

More details can be found in the article by Switzerland Global Enterprise

27.02.2026

🖥️Economiesuisse Webinar: U.S. Tariffs – Current Status, Next Steps and Questions
The presentation from the economiesuisse webinar “Current Status, Next Steps and Questions” provides a good overview.
 

24.02.2026 

U.S. introduces global, temporary additional tariff of 10 percent under Section 122 of the Trade Act
As of today, 06:00 a.m. Swiss time (CET) (12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time), a 10 percent ad valorem additional tariff applies for a period of 150 days to goods imported into the United States from all countries, unless an explicit exemption applies. The legal basis is Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published the corresponding regulation. The temporary additional tariff of 10 percent is levied in addition to the most-favoured-nation (MFN) tariff rate that applied before April 2, 2025.

21.02.2026

U.S. Supreme Court halts IEEPA tariffs, uncertainty for Swiss companies remains
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the IEEPA punitive tariffs imposed by President Trump are unlawful. The U.S. administration has responded by introducing a new global tariff of 10 percent as of February 24 under a different legal basis and is examining possible additional tariff measures. For Switzerland, the tariff rate is therefore expected to decrease from 15 to 10 percent.

Unfortunately, the court’s ruling does not prevent the US president using «national security» as justification to implement further trade policy instruments – such as Section 232 – to impose tariffs. On this basis, a corresponding investigation is currently underway in the field of medical devices. Section 301, which authorises measures against «unfair trade practices», may also be applied.

19.12.2025

⚠️Important US Customs refund
The US is limiting the flat-rate additional customs duty on imports from Switzerland retroactively to a maximum of 15% as of 14 November 2025. Customs duties levied between 14 November and 18 December 2025, will be refunded.

According to expert estimates, the total refunds will amount to around CHF 350 million. Of this, around CHF 50 million will be attributable to the medtech industry (see in particular Affected product groups and customs tariffs.xlsx).

Who can apply for a refund?
Anyone who imported goods from Switzerland to the US during the specified period can apply for a refund. Importers usually do this online. For imports that have not yet been cleared, a Post Summary Correction must be submitted as soon as possible. For imports that have already been cleared, a protest must be filed within 180 days of clearance. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for this.

18.12.2025

USTR confirms tariff reductions for Swiss imports
In a notice published in the Federal Register, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has confirmed the tariff reduction agreed in the Joint Statement with Switzerland, effective retroactively from November 14, 2025. The notice will enter into force later today.

11.12.2025

15 percent tariffs: A sigh of relief, yes – but no all-clear yet
The announcement by the Federal Council on 10 December brings relief, but no all-clear yet: The US is applying a tariff ceiling of 15% on imports from Switzerland. This applies retroactively from 14 November 2025.

A sign of relief because the reduction from 39 per cent today to 15 per cent significantly reduces the competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis important trading partners such as the EU.

No all-clear because even 15 per cent is high compared to the previous 0 to 2 per cent, and because the 15 per cent cap – unlike for pharmaceuticals and semiconductors – is not guaranteed in the context of the ongoing Section 232 investigation into medical devices.

Once it comes into force, the national customs duty rate of 15 % will apply, with the exception of products listed in Annex II or in the Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners (originally Annex III) or covered by the Nairobi Protocol. Check to what extent your products are affected by these exceptions.

10.12.2025

15 percent tariffs on U.S. imports from Switzerland enter into force retroactively
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced today that the country-specific additional tariff on U.S. imports from Switzerland will be reduced from 39 percent to a flat rate of 15 percent with immediate effect and retroactively as of November 14, 2025. Swiss companies will thus have the same conditions as those in EU/EFTA countries and Japan, eliminating a significant competitive disadvantage for Switzerland.

14.11.2025

Switzerland and the United States conclude tariff agreement
Switzerland and the United States concluded a joint statement today. A country-specific additional tariff of 15 percent will therefore apply to Swiss exports. Switzerland will thus receive the same conditions as the EU and EFTA countries.

26.09.2025

Announcement of a Section 232 investigation into medtech products
On September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated an investigation under Section 232 into imports of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical consumables, and medical devices. The announcement was published today in the Federal Register. A 21-day consultation period is now underway until October 17. The aim is to assess whether these imports pose a risk to U.S. national security.

Section 232 investigation 

03.09.2025, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

🖥️Swiss Medtech Webinar: Nairobi Protocol
Swiss Medtech, together with Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), is pleased to invite you to a webinar on the Nairobi Protocol and its potential as an instrument to mitigate the impact of the new 39% U.S. tariffs on Swiss Medtech products. Join us for expert insights on how the protocol works in practice, what regulatory and procedural requirements apply, and which pitfalls companies should be aware of.

Recording and presentation

12.08.2025

⚠️Important: 39% tariffs – Examine options – a rough roadmap

• Check customs exemptions: Check whether products fall under the Nairobi Protocol. Read this article for more information.
• Targeted (partial) price adjustments: Secure margins in less price-sensitive segments.
• Diversify markets: Tap into new sales markets.
• Hedge currency risks: Use forward transactions or currency options.
• Optimise supply chains: Partial production or assembly in countries with lower customs duties without compromising Swiss-made standards.
• Strengthen US sales: Expand distribution network or establish direct sales to increase control over prices and margins.

07.08.2025

39 percent tariffs on Switzerland enter into force
Switzerland was unable to reach an agreement with the United States within the deadline to resolve the tariff dispute. The 39 percent tariff rate therefore enters into force today.

In addition to Switzerland, the United States has introduced new tariffs for around 70 other countries. The tariff rates range from 10 percent (e.g. the United Kingdom) to 50 percent (Brazil and India). The U.S. tariff rate for the EU is 15 percent.

01.08.2025

U.S. announces massive 39 percent tariff on Switzerland starting August 7
President Trump has announced a tariff rate of 39 percent on Switzerland starting August 7. It is neither justified nor understandable why Switzerland should face one of the highest tariff rates in the world. Especially compared with the EU (15 percent) and the United Kingdom (10 percent), the announced tariffs are significantly higher.