The Swiss government said Thursday it would pursue more talks with the United States after a last-gasp mission to Washington failed to stop a 39% tariff blow that businesses described as a “horror scenario.”
The government held an emergency meeting after President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economy Minister Guy Parmelin returned home from their trip empty-handed, but it does not plan to retaliate for now.
Keller-Sutter said in a press conference that Swiss officials were still in Washington to hold talks that are crucial for industries ranging from watchmaking to industrial machines, cheese, and chocolate.
Trump blindsided the Swiss last week when he announced that the country would be hit by one of the highest tariffs among new duties on imports from dozens of economies that took effect on Thursday.
The Swiss rate was higher than Trump’s previous threat of a 31% tariff.
Keller-Sutter rushed to the U.S. capital with a small delegation earlier this week to seek a friendlier levy, but only secured a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who does not oversee tariff policy.
In a statement after its extraordinary meeting on Thursday, the Swiss government said it “remains firmly committed to pursuing discussions with the U.S. with the aim of reducing these tariffs as swiftly as possible.”
