Switzerland maintains mandate for US trade negotiations
Economy Minister Guy Parmelin confirmed Switzerland will continue talks to formalize a tariff reduction deal. The move follows recent US trade investigations.
Switzerland is maintaining its current mandate for trade negotiations with the United States, aiming to finalize an agreement over tariffs established last year. Economy Minister Guy Parmelin confirmed the decision on Friday, following Washington's announcement of new trade investigations into 16 major partners, including the Swiss, regarding industrial capacity and labor standards.
The Swiss government plans to coordinate with other affected nations to address the U.S. investigations. Parmelin, who is also serving as the Swiss president for 2026, noted that Bern would seek a collective response to the latest developments from Washington.
And we will most certainly also consult with these countries to see how to respond to the United States, Parmelin told reporters at a press conference.
The trade relationship has been under pressure since August, when the U.S. administration under Donald Trump imposed a 39% duty on Swiss imports, the highest rate in Europe. An initial deal reached in November reduced those tariffs to 15%, aligning Switzerland with the European Union's rate. Washington has been pressing to formalize this deal by the end of March.
The negotiations and discussions are continuing, said Parmelin, who is also Switzerland's president for 2026.
