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Swiss President Races to Avert Crippling U.S. Tariffs in Last-Ditch Talks
6 Aug
Summary
- U.S. seeks more Swiss purchases of arms, energy to avoid 39% tariffs
- Swiss delegation in Washington for urgent negotiations with U.S. officials
- Final approval from President Trump needed to clinch a deal
In a high-stakes diplomatic showdown, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter and Business Minister Guy Parmelin have rushed to Washington for urgent negotiations with U.S. officials. The talks aim to prevent a devastating 39% tariff on Swiss imports, which President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced last week.
The Trump administration is reportedly seeking more Swiss purchases of American energy and defense products as part of a deal to avoid the steep tariffs. This comes after the European Union struck a similar agreement with the U.S. last month, agreeing to buy $750 billion worth of U.S. liquefied natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy over the next three years.
While the Swiss government is focused on sweetening its offer to Washington, some Swiss politicians have called for scrapping a $7.43 billion deal to buy Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets in retaliation. However, the Swiss delegation is determined to find a compromise and secure a last-minute agreement before the tariffs go into effect on Thursday.
Keller-Sutter is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in a final push to win over President Trump and avert the crippling tariffs that could severely damage Switzerland's export-driven economy.