On 20 June 2025, the Swiss Federal Council announced that Switzerland is lifting its economic sanctions against Syria (see press release here). This decision is a move to align Switzerland with the EU’s decision of 27 May 2025 (see blog post here). The revision follows the initial easing of specific sanctions related to Syria’s energy and transport sectors, as well as certain financial services and banking relationships, implemented on 7 March 2025 (see press release here).…
On 1 June 2025, the revised Swiss Ordinance on Measures against Belarus (“Belarus Ordinance”) entered into force, thereby implementing the EU’s latest Belarus sanctions. These sanctions had been adopted alongside the EU’s 16th sanctions package against Russia on 24 February 2025, which Switzerland implemented on 15 May 2025 (see blog post here). With this revision of the Belarus Ordinance, Switzerland continues to align its sanctions regime against Belarus with the sanctions against Russia, thereby preventing…
The EU adopted its 16th package of sanctions against Russia on 24 February 2025, marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (see blog post here). On 14 May 2025, the Swiss Federal Council decided to conclude the implementation of the measures of the EU’s 16th sanctions package relevant for Switzerland by updating the Ordinance on measures in connection with the situation in Ukraine (“Ordinance”; see press release here), thereby — once again…
On 2 April 2025, the Swiss Federal Council announced an update to the Swiss dual-use goods control lists. This change represents a noteworthy departure from the international export control regimes that have traditionally consensually updated these lists but that are currently blocked due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. As a result, Switzerland has now issued revised lists in line with key trade partners. Dual-use goods are goods that can be used for both civilian and military…