Talks on customs deal Trump: "We're working on something to help Switzerland"
According to a media report, Switzerland is on the verge of a customs deal with the USA. In future, a rate of only 15 percent instead of 39 percent is to apply. Trump has confirmed the negotiations - and is sympathetic.
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- According to a media report, Switzerland is on the verge of a customs deal with Washington.
- In future, there should only be tariffs of 15 percent against Switzerland, significantly less than the current 39 percent.
- US President Donald Trump has confirmed the talks on a customs agreement with Switzerland and is sympathetic: "We are working on something to help Switzerland," he said.
This article was last updated at 23:35.
Will the Trump tariff hammer against Switzerland soon be history? According to the Bloomberg news agency, Switzerland is close to reaching an agreement with Washington.
According to the agreement, a tariff rate of just 15 percent will apply in future - significantly less than the 39 percent that Trump used to send shockwaves through the Swiss economy. This was the highest rate Trump imposed during his round of tariffs in August.
Bloomberg also reported, citing informed sources, that the deal could be finalized within the next two weeks. A decisive impetus was provided by Trump's "extremely positive" talks with Swiss business leaders in November, the report continues.
Trump confirms negotiations
However, the people quoted by Bloomberg went on to say that nothing has yet been finally decided for Switzerland regarding the customs deal. The talks could also fail, as was the case last July.
In response to a journalist's question about tariffs and Switzerland, US President Donald Trump said at a media conference: "We are working on a deal to lower their tariffs a little bit." When asked, however, he did not want to give a specific figure. "We are working on something to help Switzerland," Trump continued.
The tariffs had hit Switzerland "very hard", but he wanted "Switzerland to remain successful." Trump also emphasized that Switzerland had been a good ally so far.
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) also kept a low profile. The department's spokesperson Markus Spörndli told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Monday that Bloomberg had "of course not confirmed" this. Negotiations are ongoing and no comment will be made in the meantime.
With material from Keystone-sda.
