Imports

• Trade key to prosperity in Switzerland via Rhine River
• Relies on large quantities of imported raw materials for industry
• Exports mostly machinery, chemicals, cars, metals; agricultural products and textiles
• EU largest trading partner accounting for 79% of imports
• Import prices heavily affected by exchange rates
• It takes five documents and nine days to import a standardized shipment of goods.

Tariffs 

• Import duties are generally low at under 3% for most raw materials and industrial
• Duties are specific--based on weight, rather than value
• 90% of its imports from WTO member countries, extends MFN tariff treatment
• Information Technology Agreement under WTO eliminating tariffs on IT products
• Preferential duties for development countries
• Imports of agricultural products higher import duties, supplementary duties, and tariff-rate quotas.

Licensing

• Import licenses are required for certain products not subject to quotas.

Non-Tariff Barriers

• Non-Tariff barriers are more common in Switzerland than in EU
• Permits legally manufactured EU products to circulate freely
• Lifted ban on parallel imports--patent protected goods

http://www.ocra.com/solutions/taxation_switzerland.asp

http://www.agentschapnl.nl/sites/default/files/bijlagen/Zwitserland%20D&B%20november%202011.pdf