The free trade agreement between Canada and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, came into force on July 1, 2009 and is a pure goods agreement that focuses on the elimination of customs duties. It consists of a main agreement and three related bilateral agreements on agriculture with Iceland, Norway and Switzerland (although the bilateral agreement between Canada and Switzerland also covers agricultural trade with Liechtenstein).
With the entry into force of C-EFTA, tariffs on all non-agricultural products (including metals and minerals) were immediately abolished, with the exception of Canadian tariffs on sensitive shipbuilding products, which are to be abolished over a period of up to 15 years. Limited tariff concessions were negotiated for agricultural products and foodstuffs.
The agreement covers trade in industrial goods, including fish and other marine products, as well as in processed agricultural products. Agricultural commodities fall under the bilateral agreements concluded at the same time as the free trade agreement between Canada and Iceland and Norway and Switzerland. Switzerland represents Liechtenstein for the purposes of these bilateral agreements, which are part of the instruments for establishing a free trade area between the contracting parties. The aim of the agreement is to liberalize and facilitate the movement of goods in accordance with relevant WTO rules. Most industrial products, including fish and other seafood products, will have duty-free access to their respective markets as of entry into force of the Agreement.
The agreement also includes references to existing WTO obligations in areas such as services, investments and public procurement. General principles of competition law and policy are also included in the agreement. The Canada-EFTA Joint Committee established by the Agreement will monitor the application of the Agreement, which also provides for binding arbitration.
Information on imports of agricultural products
For many agricultural products, General import permits (GEB) required, which are issued free of charge by the Federal Office of Agriculture (BLW). GEB are on motion issued, including to natural and legal persons and groups of persons who have their place of residence or registered office in the Swiss customs territory. The GEB is free of charge, valid indefinitely and not transferable. However, the GEB does not automatically entitle you to import goods at a low quota rate KZA or zero duty; to do this, you need an allocation of a quota share or a exploitation agreement (see AEV14online).
GEB are valid indefinitely and are not transferable. Tariff quotas may apply to goods such as meat, herbs, fruit, vegetables, potatoes and dairy products, and receipt of a GEB is a prerequisite for a producer to be included in the quota. Animals and animal products must be inspected upon importation or during transit. Some plants and plant products require a plant passport issued by the BLW, and protected plants even require an import permit issued by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV).
What does it take?
You need the customs tariff number of the goods to be imported. If you don't know them, this will help you Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (BAZG). You can the Swiss usage rate Also look it up electronically.
Tariff quotas are distributed for many products and product groups, such as meat, sausage, fruit, vegetables, potatoes, sheep, cattle and dairy products. If an importer has a quota share, he can import the corresponding goods at a lower zero KZA/duty rate. If an importer does not have a quota share, he must pay the significantly higher extraquota duty rate (AKZA). Imports into AKZA are possible at any time and in unlimited quantities. However, keep in mind that the ACZAs can be very high.
Some procedures for allocating tariff quotas:
Auction
The auctions are advertised on the BLW website; subscribers receive a newsletters via email. Participants have the opportunity to submit a maximum of five different bids by the end of the bidding period. At auction, the quota quantity is distributed in descending order according to the highest bid price. The results of the auction will be published in any case.
Market share (“comparative figures”, “imports”)
To allocate the quota, imports (in some cases also purchases of domestic products) from previous years are calculated and allocated in the form of percentages. The rules that apply depending on the product can be found in the product information.
Greyhound at the registration office
Starting on a day specified in the ordinance, the quota will be distributed in the order in which applications are received by the BLW (“first come, first served”). The allocation lasts as long as it has shares.
Greyhound at the border
The quota will be released on a date specified in the regulation. Within the quota, goods may be imported until the quantity is exhausted. The date of the customs declaration is decisive, which is why the contingents be managed by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security FOZG.
eQuoTas
With the Internet application eQuotas holders of quotas can submit bids and applications for quota shares online. eQuotas also provide information about current tenders.
With eQuotas, quota shares can be passed on to other beneficiaries for use. Quota holders can also view the daily quota balance and check whether they have received quota shares to use.