USA-Suisse trade conflict –
Switzerland plays its last card against the United States
A desperate strategy, 45 minutes of audience and a steakhouse near the White House: behind the scenes of the flash trip by Parmelin and Keller-Sutter to try to avoid the 39%American customs duties.
Guy Parmelin and Karin Keller-Sutter are preparing to hold a press conference in Bern after their trip to the United States.
Fabrice Coffrini
- After the trip to Washington, the Federal Council informs the state of negotiations.
- Switzerland wants to set up a package of measures with the help of the economy.
- The head of seco, Helene Budliger, remains in Washington for new negotiations.
- The Federal Council wants to extend partial unemployment at twenty-four months for the companies concerned.
“What does it make to reappear like that, by Trump, on the phone?”
A journalist asks this question to the president of the Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, Thursday afternoon, in Berne. The federal advisor increases her shoulders, inspires and expires audiblely, then said: “It was a disappointment, not only for me. But you have to live with it. Do not take it personally. ”
Guy Parmelin then entered the scene. He intervenes with unusual energy to defend the president of the Confederation against this malicious question. “You know,” he says, “the Federal Council wins together. And the Federal Council loses together. “
Team Switzerland: The Minister of the Economy, Guy Parmelin, repeatedly evokes team spirit during the press conference with Karin Keller-Sutter.
Peter Schneider
However, everything was coming so well in early April. There telephone conversation Between Donald Trump and Karin Keller-Sutter? A success!
Switzerland at the top of the list of priority nations
At least that’s what many media have believed. For her part, the president of the Confederation also believed there a little. “I obviously found access to him. He asked a lot of questions and was very interested in Switzerland, “she explained to «Blick» About his interview with the American president about customs duties.
Still last week, in “Swiss family”Karin Keller-Sutter has established a link between his call and the postponement of customs duties around the world: “I proposed to seek a solution together and leave customs duties at 10% while waiting. This is what he did the same day. It remains to be seen to what extent I helped influence this decision. ”
They were the good old days. Everything seemed to be fine at the time. Only one month after the interview between Karin Keller-Sutter and Donald Trump, the first meeting with the American secretary to the Treasury, Scott Bessent, and the representative in the trade, Jamieson Greer, took place in Geneva. The return of Americans: Switzerland is at the top of the list of priority nations. For Bern, an agreement seems acquired!
Shortly after, the agreement was completed. This is at least what Berne heard all the people involved in the file. Ready to be signed. Ready end. Until it is no longer …
Trump à propos de Karin Keller-Sutter: «I didn’t know her»
“He estimates that the 40 billion trade deficit is a direct loss for the United States. The Federal Council is of another opinion, “said Thursday Karin Keller-Sutter, Faced with the press.
The federal councilor clearly hinted that the second telephone interview, the one that took place just before the federal festival, was much more difficult than the first. Donald Trump didn’t want to hear anything or understand anything.
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For his part, Donald Trump said on American television that he spoke to the “Swiss Prime Minister”, a kind woman according to him, but who did not listen. Despite Switzerland’s important trade surplus with the United States, this woman he did not know (“I Didn’t Know Her”) would have wanted to pay only 1% penalty.
When Kks and Parmelin try a “hail mary”
The day of the national holiday, Switzerland dark in shock. Is it really serious? On the Grütli, Karin Keller-Sutter is launching calls for perseverance. “Long live the Confederation.” According to her, it is obvious that negotiations with the United States will continue.
At the start of the week, the federal delicacy is activated to finalize a new agreement. The Federal Council promises that it will be “even more attractive”. THE State Secretariat for Economy (Seco) multiplies calls to Swiss patterns: what can you offer? Didn’t you intend to invest in the United States anyway? The amount of these promised investments would be so high that he would even impress Donald Trump.
In the field of armaments, needs are planned over ten years. Patriot defense missiles, ammunition for the F-35: all these equipment must in any case be acquired from the United States.
According to several sources, the Federal Council also wishes to offer an energy agreement to Donald Trump. But Switzerland is pale in this area. The EU is committed to buying 250 billion euros in gas, oil and American nuclear fuels each year. In comparison, Swiss oil and gas consumption does not exceed 10 billion francs annually.
This is exactly this message that Guy Parmelin and Karin Keller-Sutter want to bring Americans in person. This is why they will fly together Tuesday for the United States. There, this kind of initiative has a name: “Hail Mary”. This is an expression from American football. When the quarterback no longer has pass options, when it is cornered and under pressure, it propels the ball to the in-goal area by murmuring a prayer, in the hope that someone recovers it.
Statistically, the chances of success amount to less than 5%.
A forty-five minute hearing for the Swiss delegation
The plane takes off Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. from Dübendorf (ZH). The brand new jet of the Federal Council is not available, the old Dassault Falcon 900 will be used. To join Washington, a stopover is essential.
The objective of the trip was to present the new offer to the Americans, will later explain Karin Keller-Sutter. However, when the jet carrying the high-level Swiss delegation takes off from Dübendorf, it has not even obtained an official appointment in Washington yet.
It is only on the evening of arrival that we learn the news: the American secretary of state, Marco Rubio, released a niche for the Swiss delegation. Time window granted: forty-five minutes.
The president of the Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, and the American secretary of state, Marco Rubio, during their meeting in Washington.
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Marco Rubio has nothing to do with business issues. But he was asked in a very targeted way, according to Karin Keller-Sutter. After all, it is he who oversees bilateral negotiations with Switzerland. There were a few kind words and circumstance photos. But the mines of Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin at the exit of the State Department do not suggest anything good.
Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin are welcomed in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein (AP Photo)
Some representatives of the American economy also take the time to meet the Swiss delegation. The meeting takes place in the Grace Room of Steakhouse Joe’s, not far from the White House. The establishment offers a particular event: the professional opening of rock crabs in the mallet, invoiced 100 dollars per participant. According to photos published on social networks, Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin, however, stick to mineral water that afternoon.
In the evening, it’s time for the return flight. Helene Budliger, head of seco, remains in Washington. She must continue work in the field: to build contacts, continue the negotiations.
Angry Guy Parmelin: “Fiasco is 39%”
Back in Bern, the entire Federal Council is informed of the trip. “We must now continue to work with calm and intelligence,” said Karin Keller-Sutter later at the press conference. The basics of a new cycle of negotiations with the Americans are laid. The offer is on the table of Marco Rubio or perhaps already on that of Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the Department of Economy will observe the cyclical situation and indicate the possible measures to be taken. The two federal advisers promised to approve the extension of partial unemployment to twenty-four months soon (Editor’s note: the case has already gone to parliament). For some companies, a difficult period will now begin. “Sometimes there is an external pressure for there to be changes inside,” said the president of the Confederation, a little enigmatic and smiling. She did not specify what changes it was.
Nor does she answer the question of whether the trip to the United States was a fiasco. “Fiasco is 39%,” hastens to add Guy Parmelin. “We want regular relations with the United States. But not at any cost, ”underlines the president of the Confederation.
In the end, we ask Karin Keller-Sutter if she will soon seek to chat again with Donald Trump. From president to president. According to her, it is not planned for the moment. Direct contact would only make sense if one could offer something concrete.
Translated from German by Olivia Beuhat
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