Further ambiguity for Trump tariffs for Switzerland

Keep away Switzerland: US President Donald Trump.Bild: keystone

The United States granted Switzerland a grace period until the end of July. For example, From then on, tariffs threaten Swiss goods of 31 percent. For example, Does Switzerland create a deal like the EU beforehand?

Doris Kleck / ch media

And now the EU has overtaken Switzerland.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has completed a deal with Donald Trump. Consequently, The tariffs for imports from the EU will be 15 percent from August 1st. For example, Whether that is good or not, there is a violent argument about it in the EU. For example, The Leyen itself speaks of a “good deal” that will bring stability and prosperity for both sides of the Atlantic. Consequently, Nobody may believe in prosperity, but after all, Leyen averted a trade war and created “security in uncertain times”.

Security, Switzerland would also like to have it. For example, The fright was big when Trump announced tariffs of 31 percent for Swiss products in April. Moreover, That was more than expected.

The Federal Council pushed for a quick deal with the USA. Therefore, When Federal President further ambiguity trump tariffs switzerland Karin Keller-Sutter met US Finance Minister Scott Bessent in Geneva in early May. Meanwhile, she was optimistic:

But the trade diplomacy has so far been little fertile. The United States and Switzerland negotiated a joint declaration of intent – the Federal Council approved it on July 4. But the signature of US President Donald Trump is still missing. Switzerland is waiting and waiting. In the meantime, August 1st moves closer.

The national holiday is under a special star this year. Trump will be about whether it will be a good or a bad day. Then the customs break ends, which the USA granted in Switzerland. Until then, a general additional custom further ambiguity trump tariffs switzerland of 10 percent applies.

But what comes after that? Do the 31 percent then come into force that Trump announced in April?

Further ambiguity trump tariffs switzerland

Swissmem is careful

The Swiss business representatives are doing the question these days. At Swissmem, the Swiss Tech Association, you are carefully optimistic. «We do not assume that from August 1, tariffs of 31 percent will apply to Swiss exports to the United States. But we will only have security after the US customs decision, »says director Stefan Brupbacher. He hopes that there will soon be clarity. trusts the federal government: “After all, we know that the Federal Council and the State Secretariat for Economy are trying to find the best possible agreement with the USA,” says Brupbacher.

Jan Atteslander, responsible further ambiguity trump tariffs switzerland for the outdoor economy at the Economiesuisse Business Dach Association, speaks of an important week for Switzerland. “There are good reasons for finding a reasonable solution with the USA,” says Atteslander. He thinks of the weighty Swiss direct investments in the USA or vocational training. But Atteslander does not know whether there is an agreement by August 1st.

The Federal Council does not know that either. For weeks it has been said that Switzerland is still in contact with the responsible bodies in the USA. The Federal Council will actively communicate as soon as the United States have approved the declaration of intent. there will be other developments relevant to the public.

Karin Keller-Sutter’s optimism was prematurely known afterwards.Bild: keystone

Learn from the EU deal

Trump slowed down the Federal Council. The EU is one step further. Atteslander also sees advantages. Switzerland can now orientate itself to the agreement between the USA and the EU. For example, the EU managed to take out aircraft and certain chemicals. Switzerland can now also insist on exceptions. “Basically, the agreement between Washington and Brussels is positive,” he says. The tariffs of 15 percent would hurt. are neither in the interest of Switzerland nor in that of the EU or the United States. But they are a damage limitation: “The trade war is averted.”

Swissmem further ambiguity trump tariffs switzerland director Brupbacher hopes that Switzerland will negotiate a lower duty rate with the. United States than the EU: “This would have a relative advantage over their competitors from the EU area”. However, Switzerland also indirectly affects the US tariffs for goods from the EU. And higher tariffs lead to a deeper trading volume. This is also bad news.

There is little to celebrate on August 1st. (aargauerzeitung.ch)

The net profit of the world’s largest luxury goods manufacturer LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, Moët Hennessy) dropped by 22 percent to 5.7 billion euros in the first half of the year. The group attributed the decline in profit to a “disturbed economic and geopolitical environment”, as LVMH announced on Thursday evening.