The Swiss government has embarked on a charm offensive in its bid to reduce the steep 39% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, which have crippled the country's exports. The diplomatic effort comes after months of attempts to persuade Trump to lower the tariffs, with some reports suggesting that the president may be willing to make concessions.
According to US officials, Swiss ministers had "very positive" talks in Washington, with the Swiss being "very aware" of their trade deficit and prepared to address it. Economics minister Guy Parmelin stated that both sides had "clarified almost everything", while senior US official described the discussions as a "meaningful reduction" in tariffs.
The Swiss have been trying to reduce the tariff rate since August, when Trump imposed the 39% tariffs on European exports. The move was part of his trade war against Europe, and has had a devastating impact on Switzerland's economy. Tech exports to the US are down by 14.2%, according to latest statistics.
The Swiss government has been seeking to reduce the tariffs through various means, including offering to build more production plants in the US and pivoting its aircraft fleet towards Boeing. Swiss International Airlines is reportedly set to make this shift, which could benefit the US economy.
However, not all is well with the Swiss charm offensive. Some industry chiefs have warned that they will have to furlough staff if nothing changes. The government has also relied on an influential figure in Trump's circle - Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who was reportedly urged by some parliamentarians to try and change the president's mind.
It remains to be seen whether Trump's stance towards Switzerland will soften, but with promises of increased production and a potential shift in aircraft supplier, the Swiss may have a chance to persuade him to lower the tariffs.
According to US officials, Swiss ministers had "very positive" talks in Washington, with the Swiss being "very aware" of their trade deficit and prepared to address it. Economics minister Guy Parmelin stated that both sides had "clarified almost everything", while senior US official described the discussions as a "meaningful reduction" in tariffs.
The Swiss have been trying to reduce the tariff rate since August, when Trump imposed the 39% tariffs on European exports. The move was part of his trade war against Europe, and has had a devastating impact on Switzerland's economy. Tech exports to the US are down by 14.2%, according to latest statistics.
The Swiss government has been seeking to reduce the tariffs through various means, including offering to build more production plants in the US and pivoting its aircraft fleet towards Boeing. Swiss International Airlines is reportedly set to make this shift, which could benefit the US economy.
However, not all is well with the Swiss charm offensive. Some industry chiefs have warned that they will have to furlough staff if nothing changes. The government has also relied on an influential figure in Trump's circle - Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who was reportedly urged by some parliamentarians to try and change the president's mind.
It remains to be seen whether Trump's stance towards Switzerland will soften, but with promises of increased production and a potential shift in aircraft supplier, the Swiss may have a chance to persuade him to lower the tariffs.
anyway, it's sad that switzerland has been losin so much bcs of these tariffs... 14.2% drop in tech exports is crazy 
but at least they're tryin to find ways to make it work, like buildin more production plants and shiftin aircraft supplier... that's a good start 
fingers crossed they can get trump to lower those tariffs tho 
this is a good sign for Switzerland 
they've been trying so hard to fix their trade deficit 
economics minister guy parmelin sounds like he's on the right track 
and if swiss international airlines starts flying with boeing instead of airbus 
that could bring some good news for the us economy 
let's keep our fingers crossed 
I mean, can you believe that the Swiss government is trying to charm Trump into lowering those massive tariffs? It's like, they're offering to build more production plants in the US and even pivot their aircraft fleet towards Boeing! That's some serious commitment right there! 
And it's not just about the economy, it's also about jobs - I mean, we can't have people furloughed because of tariffs, that's just crazy talk 
. And let's be real, Gianni Infantino is a total game-changer in Trump's circle, if he's got any influence over him, then maybe we'll see some positive changes soon! Fingers crossed, right? 
. I mean, come on, 39% tariffs are just crazy talk! The Swiss have been super reasonable and open to negotiations 
. And Gianni Infantino stepping in is a great move - who wouldn't want the FIFA president on their side? 
Plus, if they can offer to build more production plants and shift their aircraft fleet, that's gotta count for something. Let's be real, the US economy could use a boost 
. I'm rooting for the Swiss charm offensive here 
It's all about getting things done, right? The Swiss government can't just sit back and wait for Trump to come around on his own. They gotta be proactive and show him that it's worth doing business with them. 
. Like, can't we just have fair trade practices? The Swiss are already doing so much to appease Trump, offering to build more production plants and shifting their aircraft supplier... it's all just a bit of a giveaway 
. I mean, can't we just have some stability in our economies for once? This whole trade war thing is just ridiculous 
.
. They've been trying to reason with Trump for months, and now it seems like they're getting somewhere 
. The fact that US officials are calling these talks "very positive" and saying there's a "meaningful reduction" in tariffs is promising 
. The Swiss government should keep up the good work, but also be prepared for any unexpected twists 
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. These moves could definitely help ease tensions and persuade Trump to lower the tariffs 
And what if Trump doesn't budge? They've tried building more production plants in the US and pivoting towards Boeing, but if that doesn't work... 
! And btw, have you guys seen the stats on tech exports? 14.2% down is no joke 
i mean, can't US just chill with Switzerland, you know? 
it's not like Switzerland's trying to steal their thunder or anything. 
It's also weird that they're relying on someone as influential as Gianni Infantino to smooth things over. Has Switzerland gone from being known for neutrality to being the Swiss diplomat-in-chief? 
gotta keep those americans happy, maybe they can even get some of that tech export magic back 
. Can't we just have a decent discussion without all the drama and backroom deals? 
The Swiss are trying to sweet-talk Trump into lowering those tariffs and it's nice that they're being proactive about it 
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. Here's hoping Trump's stance softens, and trade tensions ease up 
.
Switzerland's been trying to sweet-talk the US into lowering those tariffs for months now, and it seems like they're finally getting some traction 
. But at the same time, I feel bad for all those Swiss workers who are losing their jobs because of it