View the recorded sessions from our 2023 Virtual Global Trade Conference where international trade compliance lawyers from around the world reviewed major developments impacting international trade.

Following pressure from parliament, the Swiss Federal Council last year launched a consultation process on new legislation for the review of foreign investments. In May 2023, the Swiss Federal Council has taken note of the results of the consultation on the proposed investment control law. A majority of the participants in the consultation argued that the proposed investment control law would weaken Switzerland’s attractiveness as a business location, while a significant minority sees a clear need for action and is in favor of introducing foreign investment screening also in Switzerland.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Blog Series: Sanctions Enforcement Around the World, the Swiss Perspective on 9 May 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates. 

The current global sanctions environment — the new normal for Swiss companies: This was the topic of a Russia-focused seminar with members of Baker McKenzie’s global sanctions and investigations team, on 7 February 2023.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Switzerland implements the 9th package of EU sanctions against Russia on 1 February 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Switzerland Implements Further EU Sanctions Measures on 9 January 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Switzerland implements eighth EU sanctions package and adds UK to certain carve-outs on 28 November 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Switzerland Subjects Iranian Designated Parties to its Russia Sanctions on 4 November 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Switzerland Adds to the Lists of Designated Parties and Territories under its Russia Sanctions on 18 October 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

After pressure from Parliament, the Swiss Federal Council has against its own intentions opened the consultation process on new legislation to screen foreign investments in future also in Switzerland and has published a draft investment control law (“Draft ICL”). By implementing foreign investment control mechanisms, Switzerland would follow the global trend towards stricter regulation of foreign investments. According to the Draft ICL, the new law would apply to acquisitions of domestic companies by foreign investors. The main objective is the aversion of possible threats to public order and national security resulting from acquisitions of domestic companies by foreign investors. The final aim is to create investment controls in a new and stand-alone federal law.