USA - Switzerland Economiesuisse calls for the prevention of further escalation
Following the announcement of US tariffs on Swiss exports, the Swiss business umbrella organization Economiesuisse has called on the federal government to prevent further escalation. According to the association, there are no comprehensible reasons for the tariffs from an economic perspective.
03.04.2025, 02:04
03.04.2025, 02:45
SDA
The escalation in trade policy represents a "serious burden" for the Swiss export industry, Economiesuisse wrote in a statement published on Platform X on Thursday night.
The new US tariffs would not only make Swiss exports more expensive, but also weaken the competitiveness of companies and negatively impact the investment climate. This is happening at a time when export prospects in other sales markets have already deteriorated, the association wrote. The USA is still Switzerland's most important export market, ahead of Germany.
The Federal Council and Swiss economic diplomacy are called upon to find solutions quickly at the negotiating table with the US government. Switzerland has good economic arguments on its side, Economiesuisse wrote. "Switzerland's import tariffs are already significantly lower overall than those of the USA," it said in the statement. If services as well as goods were taken into account, the result would be "roughly balanced trade" between Switzerland and the US.
Trump sees a trade deficit
US President Donald Trump announced a huge tariff package on Wednesday evening. The Republican said in the Rose Garden of the White House that many countries would be subject to higher penalties depending on their trade deficit. In principle, this means that the USA will raise its tariffs proportionately wherever the US government says it currently charges less than its trading partners
Trump announced tariffs of 31 percent on Swiss exports. The tariffs are a reaction to the 61 percent tariffs that Switzerland imposes on US products, Trump said. The Republican presented a table on which Switzerland was also listed.
Federal Council wants to determine course of action quickly
The Federal Council "takes note" of the US decisions, wrote President Karin Keller-Sutter in an initial reaction to X. The Federal Council will quickly determine the next steps. The country's long-term economic interests are paramount. "Loyalty to international law and free trade remain core values," Keller-Sutter continued.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has relied on tariffs - similar to his first term in office. Among other things, he has already imposed punitive tariffs on all aluminum and steel imports and imposed tariffs of 25 percent on imported cars and car parts. The goods affected by these previously announced tariffs, as well as pharmaceuticals, are not affected by the latest announcements, according to the US government's order.
