Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) · Swiss tariff number · HS 3401.20
3401.20.00: soap in other forms
Soap in other forms (liquid, flakes)
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), in force from 24 October 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
- 3401 Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent
- 3401.20.00 soap in other forms
What you pay
Importing into Switzerland
Customs duty only: import VAT, other taxes and trade defence duties of this country are not covered here, and the duty calculator works only with the EU, Türkiye, US and UK tariffs.
Same subheading in other tariffs
UK Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
EU Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 3.1% 
Mexico 25% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 16.2% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Argentina 18% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Peru 6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand 5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Japan Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
North Macedonia 6.5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Nigeria 35% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Binding rulings for similar goods
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N288359 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of “Floraesters K20W Jojoba” from Canada
Legal notes
Notes
1. This chapter does not cover:
(a) edible mixtures or preparations of animal, vegetable or microbial fats or oils of a kind used as mould release preparations (heading 1517);
(b) separate chemically defined compounds; or
(c) shampoos, dentifrices, shaving creams and foams, or bath preparations, containing soap or other organic surface-active agents (heading 3305, 3306 or 3307).
2. For the purposes of heading 3401, the expression ‘soap’ applies only to soap soluble in water. Soap and the other products of heading 3401 may contain added substances (for example, disinfectants, abrasive powders, fillers or medicaments). Products containing abrasive powders remain classified in heading 3401 only if in the form of bars, cakes or moulded pieces or shapes. In other forms, they are to be classified in heading 3405 as ‘scouring powders and similar preparations’.
3. For the purposes of heading 3402, ‘organic surface-active agents’ are products which, when mixed with water at a concentration of 0,5 % at 20 °C and left to stand for one hour at the same temperature:
(a) give a transparent or translucent liquid or stable emulsion without separation of insoluble matter; and
(b) reduce the surface tension of water to 4,5 × 10–2 N/m (45 dyn/cm) or less.
4. In heading 3403, the expression ‘petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals’ applies to the products defined in note 2 to Chapter 27.
5. In heading 3404, subject to the exclusions provided below, the expression ‘artificial waxes and prepared waxes’ applies only to:
(a) chemically produced organic products of a waxy character, whether or not water-soluble;
(b) products obtained by mixing different waxes;
(c) products of a waxy character with a basis of one or more waxes and containing fats, resins, mineral substances or other materials.
The heading does not apply to:
(a) products of heading 1516, 3402 or 3823, even if having a waxy character;
(b) unmixed animal waxes or unmixed vegetable waxes, whether or not refined or coloured, of heading 1521;
(c) mineral waxes or similar products of heading 2712, whether or not intermixed or merely coloured; or
(d) waxes mixed with, dispersed in or dissolved in a liquid medium (headings 3405, 3809, etc.).
In the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), 3401.20.00 is one of 1 line under subheading 3401.20, soap in other forms.
The normal tariff rate is free.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is free, the EU duty is free, the Türkiye duty is free, the US duty is free, the Canada duty is 0%–6.5%, the Mexico duty is 25%, the Brazil duty is 16.2%, the Argentina duty is 18%, the Peru duty is 6%, the New Zealand duty is 5%, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is free, the GCC duty is 5%, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is 6.5% and the Nigeria duty is 35%.
Switzerland imported goods of subheading 3401.20 worth US$9m in 2024; the largest supplier was Germany.
Questions and answers
What is the Switzerland import duty for Swiss tariff number 3401.20.00?
The normal tariff rate in the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) is free. This page shows the rate as published by the national source and, where the source publishes them, preferential rates: choose the country of origin to see them. Trade defence duties and VAT are not covered.
Where does Switzerland import these goods from?
For subheading 3401.20 as a whole, the largest supplier in 2024 was Germany (US$4m), followed by Poland.