Japan, as the world's third largest economy after the United States and China, is one of the major foreign markets for the Swiss economy, and represents its largest trading partner in Asia. In 2009, Swiss exports to Japan amounted to CHF 6.8 billion (3.8 % of all exports according to Swiss customs). The volume of Swiss imports from Japan was valued at CHF 3.6 billion (2.1 % of all imports according to Swiss customs).  

Big Trade

The most important Swiss export products to Japan are chemical products (58.7 % of total exports), machinery and electronics products (7.1 %), instruments, watches, jewelry products (20.2 %). Main groups of products imported by Switzerland from Japan are chemical products (17.4 % of total exports), machinery and electronics products (10.8 %), vehicles (27.7 %), instruments, watches, jewelry products (16.5 %).

Trade in services between Switzerland and Japan is also substantial. Swiss service providers are active on the Japanese market inter alia in the areas of financial and engineering services, tourism and commodities trading.  

Major Investments

Switzerland is a major investor in Japan. According to statistics from OSEC, the capital stock of Swiss direct investments in Japan amounted to CHF 14.8 billion francs at the end of 2008, which corresponds to 1.8 % of all Swiss direct investments abroad.  

The staff employed by Swiss owned companies in Japan almost doubled between 2003 and 2008 to about 64,000. With 4.5 % of the total stock of foreign direct investment from OECD countries, Switzerland is ranked 6th among foreign investors in Japan (2008).  

Notable Swiss firms in Japan are ABB, Adecco, Clariant, CARAN d’Ache, Credit Suisse, Hilti, (Liechtenstein) Kuoni, Lonza, Nestlé, Roche, DKSH, Novartis, Rolex, Schindler, SGS, Swiss Re, Syngenta, UBS and Zurich Insurance Company.  

Long Relations

Switzerland sent its first trade delegation to Japan in 1863. It was headed by Aimé Humbert, a representative of the Swiss watch industry. This visit led to the conclusion of a trade and friendship treaty between the two countries in 1864.  

An agreement on free trade and economic partnership between the two countries came into effect on September 1, 2009. All details can be found here.