Switzerland has recently emerged as one of the world’s most important hubs in the global trade of commodities and chartering. Switzerland now accounts for as much as one-third of the global transit trade in vital commodities such as oil, metals, and agricultural goods.

One-third of globally traded oil is bought and sold in Geneva. Two-thirds of the international trade in base metals (e.g. zinc, copper, aluminium) is handled in Switzerland, with companies headquartered in Zug and Geneva also heavily involved in extraction.

Soft commodities show a similar trend: two-thirds of the international cereals trade, over half the coffee trade, half the sugar trade, and the bulk of the cotton trade are handled by Swiss-based firms. The trade of commodities is also associated with risks including disputes under charterparties, and commercial contracts.

Various dispute resolution mechanisms and remedies are available in Switzerland for addressing such matters, through mediation, arbitration and court proceedings (interim measures and ordinary proceedings).

The presentation will consist in an overview of such mechanisms and remedies available to the specific areas of international commodities and cargo transportation.