Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) · Swiss tariff number · HS 3402.42
3402.42.00: Non-ionic surfactants: Organic surface-active agents: non-ionic
Non-ionic surfactants
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), in force from 24 October 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
- 3402 Organic surface-active agents (other than soap); surface-active preparations, washing preparations (including auxiliary washing preparations) and cleaning preparations, whether or not containing soap, other than those of heading 3401
- 3402.42.00 non-ionic
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
3402.42 Other organic surface-active agents, whether: non-ionic
UK 4% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
EU 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
USA 3.7% – 4% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 3.9% 
Canada Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines · average 5.4% 
Mexico Free – 25% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 10.3% 
Brazil 12.6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 12.6% General (MFN) 9 tariff lines 
Peru 6% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
New Zealand 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% – 35% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 27.5% 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.
- N348346 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Wedomine OPA-10AC-100 from China
- N326503 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Ethylene Bis-Stearamide (CAS# 110-30-5), Ethylene Bis-Stearamide Sp (CAS# 110-30-5), and Ethyleneglycol Distearate (CAS# 91031-31-1) from Italy
- 600011546 HMRC
Delta T. This is an energy saving additive that can be added to closed loop heating and cooling systems to reduce the amount of energy that they use in terms of either gas or electricity. This is made from surfactants. This is made by adding surfactants to water. It works by changing the surface…
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.).
Code history
Since 2022; before, these goods were classified under 3402.13.
Swiss tariff number 3402.42.00 is a line of the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) under HS subheading 3402.42 (other organic surface-active agents, whether: non-ionic).
The normal tariff rate is free.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is 4%, the EU duty is 4%, the Türkiye duty is 4%, the US duty is 3.7%–4%, the Canada duty is 0%–6.5%, the Mexico duty is 0%–25%, the Brazil duty is 12.6%, the Argentina duty is 12.6%, the Peru duty is 6%, the New Zealand duty is 5%, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is 4%, the GCC duty is 5%, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is free and the Nigeria duty is 20%–35%.
Switzerland imported goods of subheading 3402.42 worth US$38m in 2024; the largest supplier was Germany.
Questions and answers
What is the Switzerland import duty for Swiss tariff number 3402.42.00?
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 3402.42 as a whole, the largest supplier in 2024 was Germany (US$20m), followed by the United States.