The United States and Switzerland reached agreement in mid-1996 on a text which expands the scope of public procurement access on a bilateral basis. Customs procedures in Switzerland are straightforward and not burdensome. The implementation of the Uruguay Round will require a gradual reduction of export subsidies. Protection of U.S. Intellectual Property Switzerland has one of the best regimes in the world for the protection of intellectual property, and protection is afforded equally to foreign and domestic rights holders. Switzerland is a member of all major international intellectual property rights conventions and was an active supporter of a strong IPR text on the GATT Uruguay Round negotiations.
Enforcement is generally very good.
Patent protection is very broad, and Swiss law provides rights to inventors that are comparable to those available in the United States. The duration of a patent is 20 years. Renewal fees are payable annually on an ascending scale. Patents are not renewable beyond the original 20-year term, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, where the Swiss adopted a patent term restoration procedure in 1995. A decision on applications to import certain products containing GMOs is due in December 1996.