1298

SWITZERLAND

Imports

Exports

Imports

Exports

Merchandise

(1912)

(1912)

(1911)

(1911)

Francs

Francs

Francs

Francs

Cereals

231,052,996

6,368,541

219,706,718

6,135,452

Fruits and vegetables .

41,7(56,353

6,492,126

41,506,430

2,451,493

^ Colonial produce .

107,825,794

55,657,233

96,859,155

47,646,621

Animal food substances

110,285,922

118,717,470

106,729,481

108,134,400

Tobacco ....

16,471,542

4,207,156

n 14,857,846

4,102,513

Beverages ....

57,733,948

2,913,526

55,517,989

3,017,687

Animals, living .

72,663,774

15,386,901

73,401,552

12,574,734

Hides and skins .

54,712,555

39,343,447

48,624,919

34,119,610

Timber

50.077,092

7,467,518 :

49,347,604

7,561,144

Cotton goods

134,305,934

270,906,443

121,955,776

266,087,276

Linen, hemp, &c., goods

i 24,184,845

3,653,585

21,306,975

3,774,862

Silk goods ....

' 180,010.947

273,282,685

168,340,244

258,641,582

Woollen goods

j 77,307,959

24,590,739

75,799,366

26,215,049

Clothin<?, ready made .

1 60,702,678

20,725,089

54,653,548

18,536,409

Mineral substances

1 117,759,592

13,904,789

111,538,070

12,025,998

Iron work ....

! 111,469,293

31,323,244

93,702,844

26,781,182

Copper work

31,959,698

10,205,292

28,195,776

6,478,463

Gold and silver bullion

3,392,824

9,795

3,102,565

12,859

Machinery ....

1 54,454,159

92,089,852

43,950,330

83,381,123

Clocks

2,202,430

160,603,055

1,461,895

152,242,281

Chemicals ....

45,611,277

19,174,121

42,072,889

16,379,656

Grease, oils, &c. .

29,156,702

2,427,371 .

26,892,239

1,649,794

Total incl. other mercliandis(

}' 1,963,735,419

1,357,596,670

1,802,358,995

1,257,309,404

In Switzerland, for the majority of imports, the values are fixed by a commission on Exports nominated by the Customs department. Up to 1891 a single value was fixed for each class of goods, but the Commission now takes into account the difference of prices in dififerent countries of origin. For values of exports declarations are, in general, considered sufficient. Returns show the net weight, though the gi'oss weight also is declared. It is sought to record as the country of origin the country of production, and as the country of destination that where the goods are to be consume!. When exact information is not available the most distant known points of transit are recorded. In accordance with this system, Swiss returns show, as far as can be ascertained, the trade between the Con- federation and Great Britain, though, since direct commercial intercourse is impossible, the name of Switzerland does not occur in the trade returns of the United Kingdom. The treaty of 1855 provides for the most favoured nation treatment in respect of commerce, residence and other matters affecting Swiss and British interests.

The customs duties amounted in 1909, to 74,392,011 francs ; 1910 to 80,660,289 francs ; in 1911, 80,939,346 francs ; in 1912, to 86,979,263 francs.

The following table, in thousands of francs, shows the distribution of the special trade of Switzerland (including bullion but not coin). Much of the trade with the frontier countries is really of the nature of transit trade ; —

Germany France . Italy . . Austria-Hungary Great Britain Belgium Russia . Holland United States

Imports from Imports from (1910) (1911)

1,000

Francs

565,720

346,591

203,083

110,746

112,677

36,951

85,618

18,724

1,000 Francs

' 581,395

339,633

180,629

113,824

99,857

38,926

89,580

23,993

75,085

Exports to (1910)

1,000 Francs

270,165

130,045

85,593

80,072

200,355

22,911

41,812

9,577

Exports to (1911)

1,000 Francs

274,879

132,627 85,234 85.045

212,920

25,227

48,064

9,871

142,228