Companies from mainland China and Hong Kong use Switzerland to hold investments, trade commodities, raise capital and serve European customers. The articles collected here explain the questions that matter most to them: opening Swiss bank accounts, the double taxation treaties with China and Hong Kong, listings and capital raising in Switzerland, the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China, investment screening, and US sanctions that affect groups with Chinese shareholders. They are written for owners and in-house counsel of Chinese groups and for the lawyers in Hong Kong and mainland China who advise them.
Companies from mainland China and Hong Kong use Switzerland to hold investments, trade commodities, raise capital and serve European customers. Swiss banks and authorities know Chinese groups well, but they expect clear ownership structures, documented sources of funds and compliance with international sanctions and export control rules.
Relations between Switzerland and China have a long history in trade and finance. Switzerland was among the first Western countries to recognise the People's Republic, in 1950, and the free trade agreement between the two countries entered into force in 2014. Since 2022, global depositary receipts of Chinese companies listed on SIX Swiss Exchange have added a further link between the two markets.
A Chinese group entering Switzerland usually meets the most detailed questions at its bank. The bank wants to understand the ultimate beneficial owners, the business model, the origin of the funds and the reasons for choosing Switzerland, and it will ask for documents that often have to be translated and certified. Good preparation shortens the process considerably.
Sanctions and export controls deserve particular attention. Switzerland has adopted many sanctions of the European Union, and Swiss banks also take account of United States measures because of their dollar business and international exposure. Groups with shareholders, suppliers or customers in sensitive sectors should review these risks before they establish a Swiss company or open accounts.
The articles explain opening a Swiss bank account for a Chinese company, the double taxation treaties with China and Hong Kong, stablecoins in trade between Africa and China, and the US sanctions and export controls that affect groups with Chinese shareholders.
Chinese shareholders, US sanctions and the BIS Affiliates Rule
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