At the head of the famous Camille Bloch chocolate factory, Daniel Bloch proposes that the Confederation pays for 20% of the customs taxes imposed by the United States, at least for the chocolate sector. He detailed his arguments on Monday in the morning of RTS.
“It is an interest in having the same rules of the game as the other European chocolate producers. Otherwise, there will be a relocation of Switzerland in the short term,” warns the director of the company of Courtelary, who notably produces the chocolates Ragusa and Torino.
For the time being, the Confederation put above all on partial unemployment for companies in difficulty. But this solution is not suitable for its company producing perishable foodstuffs, deplores Daniel Bloch. For him, there is no question of stopping producing, because there is no stock in the United States and it is absolutely necessary to “stay in the race” so as not to lose the American market [lire aussi encadré].
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Not in accordance with the WTO rules?
With his proposal, Daniel Bloch gives the concept of the “chocolate maker” and its subsidies to help the industry export on the table on the table, more expensive than European milk. Switzerland had abandoned this practice in 2019, following a surrender to the order of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
>> Reread on the subject of the “Chocolatière law”: Switzerland obtains a compromise on the “chocolate maker” at the WTO et Swiss chocolate export aid threatened by the WTO
“I believe that one would not be illegal, because we would have reasons,” says Daniel Bloch, believing “that we do not have time to wait for the judgment of the courts”. According to him, “these laws are flouted by all countries, all those who make bilateral deals with the United States and especially the United States themselves”.
“We must obviously realize that these rules are put out of function. I do not believe that it is necessary to be more conformist than all the others,” said Daniel Bloch, adding that his subsidy proposal is limited to exports for the American market.
![The Camille Bloch chocolate factory is based in Courtelary in the Bernese Jura. It notably produces Ragusa and Torino chocolates. [KEYSTONE - CHRISTIAN BEUTLER]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== "The Camille Bloch chocolate factory is based in Courtelary in the Bernese Jura. It notably produces Ragusa and Torino chocolates. [KEYSTONE - CHRISTIAN BEUTLER]")
Too expensive for federal finances?
Daniel Bloch responds to another criticism following his proposal: paying 20% of American customs duties would be too expensive for the Confederation in view of his fragile federal finances. According to estimates, the Confederation should pay a billion francs per year.
“I wanted to bring a proposal to act, so as not to simply stay frozen” following the “shock” of the announcement of the 39% customs duties, explains Daniel Bloch. His proposal is thought of for companies “like ours, where we must continue to be able to produce with this cost problem” and not necessarily for the whole Swiss economy.
Asked about the management of the file by the authorities against Donald Trump, Daniel Bloch concludes that Switzerland still has to improve: “We cannot just hope that others will do what we want. You have to prepare a little for crisis scenarios”.
>> Reread: The Federal Council determined to continue discussions with Washington, no countermeasures
Radio subjects: Valérie Hauert, Sylvie Belzer, Céline Fontannaz
Adaptation web: Julie Liardet
