The Confederation wants to negotiate with Trump

After the blow. Moreover, the argument of the 40 billion “stolen” each year by Switzerland, the Federal Council wants to hang on. Furthermore, Because an economic storm promises to be.

A little more than one day after the announcement on the customs duties of American president Donald Trump, Switzerland remains in contact with the competent authorities in confederation wants negotiate trump the United States, according to the Confederation. Similarly, The authorities continue to favor a solution by negotiation with Washington. Similarly,

Trump wants to recover Swiss money – Confederation wants negotiate trump

The day before. Meanwhile, Donald Trump had mentioned a “huge” trade deficit with Switzerland, an assertion that Berne denies. Meanwhile, Economists warn against the consequences for the labor market.

The United States government now wishes to deire customs duties of 39% from the imports of Swiss goods. Therefore, This is what emerges from a list published on the night of Thursday to Friday by the White House. For example, This measure should come into force on August 7.

The customs duties rate indicated on the list for Switzerland is therefore even higher. Similarly, than that announced by confederation wants negotiate trump Donald Trump in April which was at the time of 31%. Furthermore, It is the fifth higher in all countries.

Switzerland had nevertheless negotiated – Confederation wants negotiate trump

The additional customs law mentioned by the American president deviates “considerably” from the draft declaration of joint intention. said the Confederation. This project was the result of intense discussions between Switzerland and the United States in recent months. It was approved by the Federal Council on July 4, 2025.

The Federal Council then took note with great regret that the United States. “despite the progress made in bilateral discussions and the very constructive attitude of Switzerland from the start”, wish to apply additional unilateral customs duties of a considerable amount on imports from Switzerland.

According to information provided by the confederation wants negotiate trump Confederation, Switzerland remains in contact with the competent authorities in the United States. However. for reasons related to negotiations, it is not possible to provide more specific information, a spokesman for the Federal Department of Economy, Training and Research (DEFR) said on Saturday at the KEYSTONE-ATS press agency.

Switzerland therefore continues to seek “a solution negotiated with the United States which is compatible both with the Swiss legal order. the existing international obligations”. The Federal Council will analyze the new situation and decide the continuation to be given, he added.

Trump: “40 billion is a problem”

On Friday evening, US President Donald Trump described the “huge” trade deficit with Switzerland. According to his statements, this deficit amounts to $ 40 billion, as reported by Italian news agencies Ansa and confederation wants negotiate trump DNKRONOS.

Donald Trump made this statement before the media before his trip to New Jersey. when asked for the reason for the 39% high customs duties imposed on Switzerland. The Republican added:

An assertion that the president of the Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter denies. For her, Donald Trump focuses only on the trade deficit of nearly 40 billion francs in his customs decision. For the federal government, the bilateral trade balance is however balanced.

The United States has a surplus in service exports, Switzerland in goods exports, the DFR said on Saturday. The surplus of the exports of goods from Switzerland “is in no way based on unfair commercial practices”. On confederation wants negotiate trump the contrary: Switzerland unilaterally abolished all industrial customs duties on January 1, 2024.

More than 99% of all goods from the United States can thus be imported into Switzerland without customs duties. Switzerland does not practice “no industrial subsidy likely to distort the market”. It continues to engage in favor of diversified commercial relations with all its international partners. as well as open markets and stable framework conditions.

It will be necessary to expect unemployment

The professor of economics Hans Gersbach warns against the consequences of customs duties on the Swiss labor market. If the 39% announced are introduced, it expects a “massive increase” of partial unemployment and job cuts in the coming months.

As customs duties will strongly deteriorate the competitive position of confederation wants negotiate trump Swiss producers. there would certainly be repercussions on employment in industry, said Hans Gersbach in an interview with the German newspapers in Tamedia.

According to the codirector of the EPFZ (KOF) Conditional Research Center (KOF). if production relocations should take place, this would lead to additional repercussions on the Swiss labor market.

Big pharma tremble. et a raison

The way in which the pharmaceutical industry will be treated will now be decisive, especially since it represents more than half of the exports of goods to the United States. If it also were to be penalized. this would lead, according to calculations by Hans Gersbach, a “sharp decline” of the gross domestic product of at least 0.7%.

But at first, we must continue to do confederation wants negotiate trump everything to reach an agreement with Donald Trump, added Mr. Gersbach. “The absolute priority is now to find an agreement in order to avoid these extreme customs duties.”

According to Hans Gersbach. the customs program of the American administration marks an even clearer break for Switzerland than the Liberation Day In April, when Trump announced the new customs measures to “protect the United States”. According to the expert, a maximum threat hovers over Switzerland. (ATS)