Switzerland Trade Agreement

Despite its quaint appearance, Zurich is a commercial powerhouse.

Switzerland is a small nation with a big economy. The Swiss economy is extremely stable, due in part to Switzerland's independence from the European Union and strong private banking sector. Despite their independence, the Swiss have many bilateral trade agreements globally and the nation is a key trading partner for Europe and the U.S..

Trade With America

In 2008, trade between the U.S. and Switzerland was valued at $36.4 billion, according to U.S Exports. The U.S. is historically Switzerland's second largest import partner, after the European Union. Switzerland's banking infrastructure makes it an appealing place for Americans to do business.

Global Exports

Switzerland is famous for precision instruments, notably watches. Watches, chocolate, banking and financial services and natural resources form a large part of Swiss exports. The country is home to Nestle, which exports consumables and food globally. Because of their many free trade agreements, Switzerland is a big exporter.

Imports

According to U.S. Exports, Switzerland imported $19.5 billion worth of goods from the U.S. in 2008. Switzerland, due to its small size and mixture of French, German and Italian culture, makes an ideal test market for U.S. exports. The Swiss import market demonstrates a growing demand for security technologies.

References

• U.S Export: European Country Briefs
• European Commission: Trade: Switzerland (Bilateral Relations)

Resources

• U.S Department of State: Swiss Confederation