The German group Lufthansa plans to buy new Boeing aircraft in the United States via Switzerland. This measure could reduce the American trade deficit with Switzerland and avoid punitive customs duties, according to information communicated Wednesday by Daily Anzeiger.
Lufthansa’s command is a hundred Boeing devices, with a catalog value of 21 billion francs, which must be delivered over the next seven years. They would not be purchased as before through rental companies located in low taxation regions such as Malta or Ireland, but via Switzerland, reports the publication.
Behind the visit of the Federal Council in Washington
This measure could contribute to reducing the trade deficit between the United States and Switzerland (48 billion francs in the first half, deliveries of gold included). Also, she would not have direct repercussions on the Swiss fleet, according to the publication. The devices would fly for other companies in the Lufthansa group. The latter had already considered this measure before in order to bypass any retaliatory customs duties of the European Union.
For his part, Swiss did not wish to comment, stressing, however, that the director general of the company, Jens Fehlinger, accompanied a Swiss delegation in the United States. “The objective of this trip was to conduct discussions at the political level in order to improve the customs political framework, the previous negotiations did not lead to the expected progress for Switzerland.”
“The discussions have notably focused on the framework conditions for the import of aircraft and the possible options for the Lufthansa group, for Swiss, as well as for the United States and American companies. Declarations on the content of these reflections and on the negotiations themselves are reserved for the competent government authorities,” said a spokesperson.
Questioned by AWP, Lufthansa does not develop information either, but says it is “in general, clearly interested in Swiss’s long -term economic success. Fleet purchases are made by the Lufthansa group in close collaboration with airlines.”
Solicited by the newspaper, the State Secretariat for the Economy (SECO) refused to comment.
