Trade Federal Council adopts draft for a US negotiating mandate
On Wednesday, the Federal Council adopted a draft negotiating mandate on trade and economic issues with the USA. The aim is to find a solution to the US tariff dispute. In addition to tariff issues, the talks will also cover non-tariff issues.
28.05.2025, 13:31
SDA
Switzerland's aim is to strengthen bilateral economic relations with its most important trading partner after the EU, as the Federal Council stated in a press release. The national government will work to maintain or even improve market access in the USA.
The US government under President Donald Trump introduced a global blanket tariff of ten percent on imports at the beginning of April. There was also a country-specific additional tariff of 21% for Switzerland. However, this was then suspended for 90 days until July 9. Bern now wants to find a long-term solution with Washington by this deadline.
The mandate includes tariff issues such as improving market access for selected agricultural products, but also non-tariff measures, as the Federal Council went on to say. The latter include, for example, the simplified approval of medical products. The investments already envisaged by Swiss companies in the USA are mentioned in the mandate.
Council committees and cantons will be consulted
The next step is to consult the foreign policy committees of the National Council and Council of States as well as the cantons. According to the communiqué, the mandate will be considered approved if no major reservations are expressed. Otherwise, the mandate will return to the Federal Council.
