Nell’ambito delle sue attività, Lugano Commodity Trading Association (LCTA) promuove il miglioramento delle condizioni quadro e l’attrattiva del Cantone Ticino, sia per le aziende operanti nel settore delle materie prime sia per i loro fondatori e collaboratori. Il Ticino è uno dei cantoni con le aliquote fiscali più alte per i cittadini, il Consiglio di Stato ha ora proposto un pacchetto di misure a loro favore. Gli elettori si recheranno alle urne il 9 giugno 2024, la LCTA raccomanda di votare SÌ alla Riforma fiscale.

La Riforma fiscale, che mira a modernizzare il sistema fiscale, a estendere i benefici a diversi tipi di famiglie e a ridurre l’onere fiscale per i dipendenti, può essere riassunta come segue:

• aumento delle deduzioni per le spese professionali da 2’500 a 3’000 franchi per il 2024 e il 2025 e a 3’500 franchi a partire dal 2026;
• riduzione delle aliquote in caso di donazione, eredità o successioni aziendale; introduzione di una nuova quota esente di 10’000 franchi; misure di sgravio in caso di successione aziendale;
• riduzione un’aliquota massima del 3% dell’imposizione dei capitali provenienti dalla previdenza;
• riduzione graduale dell’aliquota massima dell’imposta sul reddito dal 15,076% al 12% in 6 anni;
• riduzione lineare delle aliquote dell’imposta sul reddito delle persone fisiche a partire dal 2024 per compensare l’aumento del moltiplicatore al 100% (la riforma coincide con il ritorno del coefficiente d’imposta cantonale al 100% il 1° gennaio 2024, dopo essere stato ridotto temporaneamente al 97% negli anni 2020-2023).

LCTA sostiene l’iniziativa “Per evitare aumenti d’imposte a tutti” e raccomanda ai suoi membri di votare SÌ.

Due diligence and transparency obligations in the area of minerals and metals from conflict zones and child labour as well as non-financial reporting obligations came into force in Switzerland on January 1, 2024. On March 15, 2024, the Council of the European Union approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), which will affect both EU and non-EU companies with a significant turnover in the EU. In an increasingly complicated legislative framework, businesses must have the necessary tools in place to meet legal requirements and conduct focused due diligence.

Swiss Regulations

Following the rejection in 2020 of the Swiss popular initiative on mandatory environmental and human rights due diligence (commonly referred to as the “Responsible Business Initiative, RBI)”, the counterproposal sponsored by the Swiss Federal Council in the form of an amendment to the Swiss Code of Obligations came into force on January 1, 2024, providing non-financial reporting obligations as well as due diligence and transparency obligations in the area of minerals and metals from conflict zones and child labor.

Non-financial reporting obligations

As per Ordinance on Climate Disclosure (Italian version), starting from the fiscal year 2023, public companies, banks and insurance companies with 500 or more employees and at least CHF 20 million in total assets or more than CHF 40 million in turnover are obliged to report on non-financial matters and disclose publicly environmental, social, labor, human rights and corruption risks, as well as steps taken to address them (see Articles 964a-964c of the Code of Obligations).

Companies fulfilling these requirements but are controlled by a company falling within the abovementioned scope of application or having to prepare an equivalent report under foreign law, are exempt from the non-financial reporting obligations.

Due diligence and transparency in relation to metals and minerals from conflict zones and child labour

Companies exposed to risks in the sensitive areas of child labor and minerals from conflict zones must meet specific due diligence and reporting requirements if the thresholds for the import and processing of minerals and metals from conflict zones, set out in Annex I of the Ordinance on Due Diligence and Transparency Obligations in relation to Minerals and Metals from Conflict-Affected Areas and Child Labor (DDTrO) are exceeded (also see Articles 964k-964l of the Code of Obligations).

The minerals category includes ores, gold and concentrates containing tin, tantalum or tungsten. Metals are those containing or consisting of tin, tantalum, tungsten, or gold – also in form of by-products.

Due diligence obligations include implementing and maintaining a management system as well as establishing a supply chain policy and a supply chain traceability system.

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas and the Regulation (EU) 2017/821 serve as reference.

The Swiss Federal Council is now analyzing the implications of the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) for Swiss companies and is expected to decide on the next steps to take once the final version of the CS3D is released and the mechanisms by which the EU Member States will implement this Directive are known.

The EU CS3D

Following two failed attempts to gain approval, on March 15, 2024, the Council of the EU adopted a heavily watered-down version of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), requiring EU and non-EU companies with activities in the EU to carefully manage social and environmental impacts throughout their entire supply chain. The next stage is for the EU Parliament to approve this “compromise text” (likely in April 20024). If approved, the CS3D regulations will then apply to companies with at least 1’000 employees and a turnover in the EU of €450 million, rather than 500 employees and a turnover of €150 million, as previously proposed by the Commission. Lower thresholds for high-impact businesses, such as textile manufacturing, food production, mineral extraction, and construction, have been eliminated. Although SMEs are not included in the scope of the Directive, they could be impacted by its provisions as contractors or subcontractors to the companies which are in the scope

Legislation in some Member States, such as Germany (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act or “Lieferkettengesetz”), France (Duty of Diligence Act or “Loi sur le devoir de vigilance”) or the Netherlands (Child Labor Due Diligence Act, or “Wet Zorgplicht Kinderarbeid”, and the draft supply chain law), will need to be adapted to CS3D. Businesses would be expected to be far more attentive when it comes to suppliers.

Source: SUISSENÉGOCE, completed by LCTA. This article was originally published on the LCTA website on March 14, 2024 and edited on March 19, 2024.

Il Regno Unito introdurrà un proprio meccanismo di adeguamento del carbonio alle frontiere (CBAM) entro il 2027.

Lo ha annunciato il Cancelliere dello Scacchiere britannico Jeremy Hunt lo scorso 18 dicembre 2023 in un comunicato stampa, confermando che saranno colpiti ferro, acciaio, alluminio, fertilizzanti, idrogeno, ceramica, vetro e cemento, la cui produzione è particolarmente energivora, se importati da Paesi terzi. Ulteriori dettagli, tra cui l’elenco preciso dei prodotti che rientreranno nel campo di applicazione del CBAM saranno oggetto di consultazione nel 2024. Si delinea tuttavia già un ambito di applicazione più ampio rispetto all’omologo europeo.

La responsabilità applicata dal CBAM dipenderà dall’intensità delle emissioni di gas serra del bene importato e dalla differenza tra il prezzo del carbonio applicato nel Paese di origine (se presente) e il prezzo del carbonio che sarebbe stato applicato se il bene fosse stato prodotto nel Regno Unito.

La responsabilità del CBAM ricadrà direttamente sull’importatore dei prodotti importati che rientreranno nel campo di applicazione del CBAM, sulla base delle emissioni incorporate in tali prodotti. Il sistema non prevede l’acquisto o lo scambio di certificati di emissione, per contro lavorerà in modo coerente con il sistema ETS britannico per garantire che i prodotti importati siano assoggettati a un prezzo del carbonio paragonabile a quello sostenuto dalla produzione britannica, attenuando così il rischio di rilocalizzazione delle emissioni di carbonio.

Questo articolo è stato originariamente pubblicato su www.cc-ti.ch il 18.01.2024

The Commodity roundtable, organized by the Lugano Commodity Trading Association, took place on June 20, 2023. The event aimed to bring together professionals and experts in the commodity trading industry to discuss key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the market. The roundtable was followed by a networking apero, providing participants with an opportunity to connect and build relationships within the industry.

The Commodity Roundtable organised by the LCTA was attended by some 100 people at the magnificent Centro Studi Villa Negroni in Vezia/Lugano. The event witnessed a significant turnout, with a diverse mix of attendees including traders, brokers, analysts, industry experts, and representatives from various companies involved in commodity trading. It was an opportunity to take stock of the situation in different areas of commodity trading in Lugano thanks to the contribution of the various speakers Urbano Clerici (CEO, Coeclerici Compagnie SA), Renato Ginesi (CEO, GTrade System Suisse SA), Alberto Salsiccia (CFO, Petraco SA) and Norbert Stadler (CEO, DSS International SA). The panel discussion was masterfully coordinated by Roberto Grassi (CEO, Fidinam Group Holding SA).

The roundtable focused the attention on market trends and outlook. The roundtable discussion began with an analysis of current market trends in commodity trading. Spearkers shared insights on global supply and demand dynamics, price volatility, emerging markets, and regulatory changes affecting the industry. The discussions provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of commodity trading and potential future developments.

It was also a great opportunity to launch the new training programme organised by LCTA in cooperation with Alma Impact. The course called CERTIFIED COMMODITY TRADING SPECIALIST.

Following the roundtable discussion, participants had the opportunity to engage in a networking apero. The informal setting allowed attendees to connect, share experiences, and forge new business relationships. The networking session facilitated productive conversations and the exchange of contact information, fostering future collaborations and partnerships within the commodity trading community.

The first, entitled “Shipping and Logistic: Are we still sailing stormy waters?”; the moderator Michel’Angelo Piccinini (President, Propeller Club Port of Lugano) focused attention on the current dynamics of shipping after the difficult years of the pandemic, which have led to a limited supply of ships, an excessive increase in maritime freight rates, reduced activity of shipyards, and in general management difficulties related to covid19.