Finance
Swiss parliament relaxes restrictions on arms exports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 4, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 4, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
The Swiss parliament voted to ease arms export restrictions, allowing exports to 25 western countries while maintaining a ban on direct exports to Ukraine.
ZURICH, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The Swiss parliament on Thursday voted to relax restrictions on weapons exports in a move aimed at supporting the domestic arms industry without compromising the country's traditional neutrality.
In future, Swiss companies will be allowed to export arms to 25 western countries, while rules requiring consent for the re-export of Swiss weapons will be relaxed.
Currently Switzerland does not allow arms exports if the destination country is involved in an internal or international conflict, or if it seriously violates human rights.
Direct export of weapons to Ukraine will remain prohibited under the changes to the legislation.
The upper house of parliament backed the changes to Switzerland's War Materials Act by 31 votes to 12, following approval by the lower house on Tuesday.
The decision came after industry and politicians raised concerns about the damage caused to the Swiss arms sector which was losing orders abroad because of the restrictions.
Brigitte Haeberli-Koller, a lawmaker in the Centre party, said Switzerland needed a viable defence industry.
"A domestic arms industry can only exist if it can also export, and this to countries that have a similar export control regime as our country," she said.
"Because our War Material Act has probably the most restrictive export regulations in Europe, our neighbouring countries no longer buy from us," she added.
But Daniel Jositsch, a Social Democrat lawmaker, said the new regulations meant Switzerland was no longer neutral.
The ruling Federal Council will decide when the new rules become effective. The law changes could still face a referendum.
(Reporting by John RevillEditing by Dave Graham)
Arms export refers to the sale and shipment of weapons and military equipment from one country to another. It is often regulated by national laws to ensure compliance with international treaties and agreements.
The War Materials Act is legislation that governs the export of military equipment and arms from a country. It typically includes regulations on which countries can receive such exports based on their involvement in conflicts or human rights records.
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