In response to a question about the reasons why Berne’s customs duties are so high (39 %), Donald Trump said: “The problem with Switzerland is that we have a deficit of $ 40 billion. I spoke to Switzerland yesterday, but we have a deficit of $ 40 billion. It is a huge deficit”, report Italian agencies Ansa and Dnkronos.
President Donald Trump corroborated the explanations given earlier by the president of the Confederation. Karin Keller-Sutter had said that Donald Trump was of the opinion that Switzerland “steals” nearly 40 billion francs in the United States each year due to the trade deficit. It had interpreted the percentage of 39% imposed by Donald Trump by the deficit mentioned: “38.9 billion francs in deficit, 39% of customs duties, that is clear”.
Questioned by journalists on the sidelines of the National Day on the Plaine du Grütli, on the shores of Lake Quatre Cantons. Karin Keller-Sutter had added that the Federal Council rejected this “absurd” position and wanted to relaunch the negotiations.
