The Federal Customs Administration (FCA) monitors and, where it seems necessary, inspects goods that are being imported into, exported from or carried in transit through Switzerland. It levies customs duties, road tax and other taxes. Customs accounts for around one-third of federal revenue. The Border Guard Corps (BGC) is the uniformed and armed section of the FCA and carries out a series of policing duties at the border and in border regions. Jewellery and watches are checked for authenticity by the Precious Metal Control Office, part of the FCA. 

Since Switzerland is a rather small country and has limited market capabilities, export is a very important factor for its economy. On another aspect, Switzerland doesn't have many resources itself, which makes import to an important constant of the Swiss economy as well.