Switzerland slapped with hefty US tariffs
Donald Trump's new tariffs against around 70 countries came into force on Thursday. Switzerland is among those hit hardest, with a 39-percent tariff now applying on Swiss exports to the US. Not even a lightning visit to Washington by President Karin Keller-Sutter was able to avert this serious blow to Switzerland's export-oriented industry. The national press examines the damage.
Unpredictable States of America
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung predicts turbulence for as long as Trump is in power:
“ As important as it is for the Federal Council to continue to negotiate despite all the setbacks, it would be naive to expect a lasting solution. After everything Trump has already done in his still young second term, Switzerland should not assume that anything resembling trust, predictability or reliability will emerge until early 2029. Under this president, the US will remain the Unpredictable States of America. Whether it's tariffs, the price of medications or corporate taxes, Trump has many levers at his disposal - and few scruples.”
The price for not wanting to upset farmers
Switzerland is partly to blame for the new US tariffs, the Tages-Anzeiger argues:
“The fact is that our country still imposes huge tariffs on agricultural products. What's more, 15 years ago it torpedoed a free trade agreement with the US simply to avoid upsetting farmers. Had we made the deal back then, we probably wouldn't have the problems we have with Donald Trump today. No doubt in the end we will have no choice but to strike a painful and costly deal with Trump. ... He will then announce that the Swiss are friends again, but only because they've paid a hefty price and made major concessions. So much for the much-vaunted Swiss-American friendship.”
Naive Swiss paying for complacency
The defeat in the tariffs dispute is above all a psychological blow for the Swiss, Le Temps emphasises:
“Beyond all the economic and social repercussions, the psychological impact is even more devastating. ... Switzerland is becoming aware of its weakness and global isolation, especially vis-à-vis the US, whose current Uncle Sam cares little for our rich European island. ... The Swiss are complacent, they have demonstrably high living standards, high levels of prosperity and expertise and have let their superiority complex get the better of them, which is why they couldn't or didn't want to see that in the current global jungle the law of might is right applies.”