Switzerland has banned the import of aluminum from Russia and Belarus as part of a tightening of its sanctions regime, according to an official statement by the Swiss government.
This was reported by Swissinfo.
Under the new rules, starting Thursday, the delivery and sale of unprocessed aluminum of Russian origin is prohibited in Switzerland. A similar ban applies to Belarusian aluminum. In addition, export restrictions have been tightened on products that could be used in the defense industry.
The government explained that these measures are intended to align Swiss sanctions policy with that of the EU and to prevent the circumvention of previously imposed sanctions against Russia. Officials in Bern emphasized that synchronizing with European restrictions is crucial to ensuring effective collective pressure on the Russian economy in response to its actions in Ukraine.
Earlier, the head of the Swiss Aluminum Association, Marcel Mene, recalled that such measures had been under discussion since the beginning of the war three years ago. However, despite existing restrictions, Russian aluminum continued to reach European and global markets via third countries, particularly through Turkey.
In addition to aluminum, Switzerland has expanded sanctions in other sectors. In particular, the export of chrome ores that could be used for military purposes is now banned, along with specialized software for oil and gas exploration.
