The trade associations

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Swiss commodity trading organised itself late. Le Temps noted in February 2023 that the question of creating an association of trading companies had arisen.¹ The Geneva trading and shipping association, created in the early 2000s, became the national umbrella association, now named Suissenégoce, which represents the sector before the authorities and the public, publishes studies and organises training.²

This collective organisation responds to the criticism directed at the sector and to the growing demands for transparency. It has drawn up principles of conduct, taken part in the Federal Council’s work on commodity trading and supported the creation of specialised university programmes, in particular at the University of Geneva.³ For commodity trading it is the counterpart of the Fondation Genève Place Financière for finance.

Notes

Le Temps, 16 February 2023, cited above, one of whose section headings refers to the creation of an association of trading companies. ↩
Wikipedia (de), art. “Suissenégoce”: Geneva Trading and Shipping Association founded in 2006; merger in 2014 with the Lugano Commodity Trading Association and the Zug Commodity Association to form the Swiss Trading and Shipping Association (STSA); renamed Suissenégoce in spring 2023 (Wikipédia (fr), art. “Suissenégoce”: June 2023); around 200 members, including Mercuria, Vitol, Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus Company; Secretary General Florence Schurch. ↩
Commodity Trading Alumni, “Education” (cta-association.com): Master in Commodity Trading of the University of Geneva launched in 2008 with trading professionals brought together by the umbrella association (today Suissenégoce); University of Geneva, GSEM, “Master of Science in Commodity Trading”: three semesters, 90 ECTS credits, taught in English, part-time internship in a trading or trade finance company; Suissenégoce, “Master of Science (MSc) in Commodity Trading”: programme established by the University of Geneva in collaboration with Suissenégoce, accredited sponsoring companies, more than 1,200 alumni (master’s and executive diplomas since 2012). ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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The trade associations

Notes

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?