SWISS PRESIDENT IN U.S. FOR TARIFF TALKS- The Swiss government says it is not planning countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter has arrived at the U.S. State Department to speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to potentially seek a deal that would avert a crippling 39% tariff on Swiss imports.
Switzerland was stunned by U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision last week to apply the steep rate – among the highest announced since he launched his global trade reset – which threatens to do major damage to its export-oriented economy.
The Trump administration, meanwhile, is looking for Switzerland to purchase more energy and defence products, according to a Swiss source familiar with the discussions.
Switzerland already purchases some military hardware from the U.S. and has placed a 6-billion-franc ($7.43-billion) order to buy Lockheed MartinLMT.NF-35A Lightning II fighter jets.
While the Swiss government is focused on sweetening its offer to Washington and says it is not planning countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs, some Swiss politicians have called for the F-35 deal to be scrapped over the trade dispute.
