While US President Donald Trump knocked out the European Union on Saturday with a rate of 30% customs duties, Switzerland is still waiting for news from Washington. If the Swiss political class remains behind, economic circles begin to share their concern.
Donald Trump remains faithful to himself: always unpredictable. What will be the next target of his customs taxes? What does he reserve for Switzerland? At what rate? 10%, 20%, 30%like the EU, or more? No one, today, really knows.
Everything remains possible, as Monika Rühl, director of Economiesuisse, points out at the microphone of the 19:30 on Sunday. “Switzerland could get out of it a little better, because we have already negotiated. But we could also be taxed like the Europeans and receive the blow at 30%.”
>> Read also: Donald Trump has not yet decided for his customs taxes, Berne hopes for an agreement
“Pressure means to obtain other concessions”
Mathias Binswanger, professor of economics at the Haute École specialized in Argovie, is slightly more confident: “This is a means of pressure to obtain other concessions. And at the end, we will be happy and grateful if we receive an invoice at 10% or 15%.”
On Saturday, Donald Trump knocked out all EU hopes with 30% taxes. Ursula von der Leyen reacted with restraint: “We remain ready to continue working for an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all the measures necessary to safeguard the interests of the EU, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if necessary.”
On the side of the Confederation, Hélène Budliger Artieda, Director of Seco, is reassuring: “We were confirmed that Switzerland was one of the countries considered in good faith … So if we are lucky, we should not be taxed at 31%.”
This statement dates back a week, back from South America alongside Guy Parmelin. The next few days will say if his intuition was right.
TV subject: Thierry Clémence with SRF
Text for the web: Fabien Grenon