The import quotas that protect farmers from foreign competition are tightly managed in Switzerland. This does however mean that these quotas need to be eased to allow more low tariff imports when Swiss farm production dips. This week, Switzerland’s government extended quotas potatoes in response to shortages.
On 26 June 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) announced it would allow an extra 5,000 tons of lightly taxed potatoes to be imported into Switzerland this year. Last year’s hot summer and this year’s cold spring hampered local potato production. In addition, increased time spent at home during the pandemic has increased demand for potatoes.
Source: lenews.ch