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.