These tariffs apply to Switzerland and the world from August 1st

The world looks closely at Washington again. On August 1st, an important period of time in the customs dispute expires: US President Trump had asked for agreements to be found with the United States until then. Otherwise, significant higher tariffs could again apply than those 10 percent that are currently being used as the basic customs set for many countries.

The different countries came differently in their efforts for Trump’s favor. Some states and trading blocks – such as Japan and the EU – have basically agreed on a deal with the USA.

Switzerland also negotiated with the Americans. Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter announced on Thursday evening on the platform X that she was unable to reach an agreement in the phone call with Donald Trump. For this, the focus is on trade deficit. “There was no agreement on the declaration of intent negotiated between Switzerland and the USA.”

No confirmation has yet taken place on the American side. It remains to be seen whether exports from Switzerland in America will actually be occupied with an inch of 31 percent in August 1, as Trump originally threatened in April.

Trump has once again threatened new customs duties in letters, which should apply from August 1st.

How does the global situation before the deadline present?

These countries were threatened with new tariffs

It is most uncomfortable for the countries that Trump received a letter from Trump in July in which he threatened new customs sets: Canada (35 percent) or Brazil (50 percent). Trump wrote in his letters from August 1st. They can only be turned away if the deadline is extended.

On the night of Thursday, Trump signed an “Executive Order”, which will take Brazil with additional tariffs of 40 percent from August 6th. The tariffs for Brazilian imports are therefore 50 percent. In Brazil, Trump’s announcements encountered a lack of understanding, because the United States has a trade surplus with Brazil.

The tariffs apply to important Brazilian export articles such as coffee and beef. However, Trump has around half of all Brazilian exports from the customs increase, such as aircraft from Embraer, oil and orange juice. Economists expect Brazil’s growth due to the US tariffs this year to be a maximum of 0.4 percentage points lower.

Also on Wednesday, Trump also threatened India with tariffs of 25 percent and an “additional punishment” because India imported many Russian goods. A few days ago, the US President had declared 100 percent penalty of punitive tariffs against Russia’s trading partner if the Russian President Putin did not agree with peace in Ukraine.

With Mexico, Trump, in turn, has extended the negotiations for a new trade agreement by 90 days. The American President announced this on Thursday at Truth Social. Importers of Mexican goods already have to pay the cross -border tariffs on cars and metals. A large part of the other exports of Mexico are currently duty -free to the United States if they fulfilled certain provisions from the existing trade agreement USMCA. A dials of 25 percent apply to the remaining goods.

What is noticeable in the group of countries that Trump has covered with new threats: the customs sets vary significantly. No systematics can be seen according to which Trump deals with the various trading partners. In addition, the US President has incorporated aspects that have nothing to do with bilateral trade. In the case of Brazil, for example, he demanded that the judicial procedure against ex-president Bolsonaro were immediately stopped.

These countries already had a deal

For the time being, the countries and state allies that have already been reached with the United States: Great Britain (10 percent), the EU (15 percent), Japan (15 percent), the Philippines (19 percent), Indonesia (19 percent) and Vietnam (20 percent). For most goods, the agreed customs duties apply to these countries.

In the night of Thursday, it became known that South Korea is said to have completed a customs deal with the USA. Donald Trump announced on the Truth Social platform that they had agreed to 15 percent.

What is noticeable in this group: There is also no systematic recognizable in the customs sets. In addition, the details are missing in most agreements. For example, a summary fact of the white house is available for the deal between the USA and the EU, also in the Japan case. It is therefore unclear how binding the agreed customs sets will be and how long they apply. Maybe Trump wants to threaten with the customs club if necessary.

These countries have not received an announcement

These countries include Switzerland, Norway, Taiwan, Israel, Nigeria and some other African states. You have negotiated but have not yet received an update from the US government. According to Trump’s “Executive Order”, the punitive tariffs imposed in April will return from August 1st, unless further announcement arrives.

In Switzerland, however, many business representatives hoped that it remains 10 percent for the time being. For them, the news of the Federal President from Thursday evening is that no agreement could be reached, a cold shower.

So is the situation for Switzerland

In the past few months, the Swiss government endeavors to avert the penalty tariffs imposed in April from 31 percent to Swiss exports to the United States.

The State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, traveled to Washington several times. Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter achieved a coup: she was on the phone with Trump for 25 minutes. They understood themselves well, as Keller-Sutter later said: “He was very respectful. ‹It’s Honor to Talk to You, Madam President ‘, he said, before I was able to say Grüezi practically.»

Everything seemed as if Switzerland could quickly reach an agreement with the United States. But politicians and business representatives have been waiting for a message from Washington for weeks. Many still hoped for a good deal for Switzerland, but were increasingly frustrated about the long waiting.

Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter confirmed on Tuesday in an interview with the western Swiss television RTS that the Swiss negotiators were able to agree on a declaration of intent with the American delegation. The Federal Council had approved them, but the US government has not yet. “Now it is in the hands of the United States, in the hands of President Donald Trump,” said Keller-Sutter.

Switzerland seems to have not enjoyed a priority for Trump in the customs negotiations. Keller-Sutter showed a certain understanding: «Switzerland is a small country. We are not a superpower. We have a certain economic, but no political power. You have to live with that. ” Now Switzerland is waiting for further measures from America – and hopes that the 31 percent will not come back from April.

The relationships remain complicated with China

A special case is China. With no trading partner, the trading dispute has escalated more: In April, Trump imposed on imports from China, a dials of 145 percent. In May, the two largest economies in the world agreed on a 90-day reduction in punitive tariffs, during which the two states wanted to negotiate their trade relationships. The grace period ends on August 12th. How it goes on afterwards is uncertain. Trump will soon decide whether he wants to extend the negotiation period again.

However, if Trump means the threatened punishment of Russia’s trading partners seriously, China would also be affected: the country imported 2024 were worth almost $ 135 billion from Russia, especially oil and natural gas.

Is there any other deals?

How safe is Trump staying with his deadline? On Wednesday morning Washington local time, he said that he did not want to grant any further postponement.

But just a few hours later he loosened his tone: In the afternoon, Trump announced about Truth Social that the US government worked on deals with several countries. Will all of these countries make an agreement before August 1st? The extension of the negotiation period with Mexico shows once again: Trump can withdraw his threats and promises again and again when he is after it.

There will still be many twists in Trump’s customs policy.