Customs War Switzerland-USA: Trump’s minister is expressed

Switzerland and the United States want to negotiate a solution in the customs dispute. The strategy is already violent in parliament in the Bundeshaus. Meanwhile, the responsible minister is expressed in Washington.

Trump’s government has two sentences for the encounter with Karin Keller-Sutter from last week: « Finance Minister Scott K. H. Bessent today met with Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter and the Vice President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, » it says in the message. It was switched on on Friday, with a delay of one day, on the Ministry of Finance.

And further: « The minister was pleased with the thoughts of the Federal President and the Vice President about how the economic relationships between the United States and Switzerland can best be promoted, also with regard to a fair and mutual trade. »

The sound is as friendly as it is non -binding. The lines also give the impression of a one-sided conversation: Keller-Sutter and Parmelin together sang a song of praise for the Swiss-American partnership, listened better and took note of the « thoughts ». After all, « pleased ». What this means remains open at first.

A comparison with statements on other meetings by the US finance minister shows that that is particularly short for Switzerland. In the communication with Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato of productive « discussions about a broad spectrum of bilateral topics », there is talk, including mutual trade. Besser, the “strong start” of the discussions welcomes and confirms that the close consultations also want to continue about questions of the exchange rate.

Is there a Trump referendum in Switzerland?

Keller-Sutter also spoke of a productive exchange with better last week at a point de press in Washington. There she announced a declaration of intent, which is now being striving with the United States, a “Letter of Intent”. It should be determined by those subject areas that the two sides then want to negotiate. From the US side, the trade deficit compared to Switzerland is allegedly around 40 billion and the reduction of possible trade barriers.

Meanwhile, the Federal Council brings the billion dollar investments of Swiss companies into play or cooperation in building apprenticeship training in the USA. It is unclear whether a long-term, firmly agreed cooperation in the security area is also one of the Swiss offers, as the Tamedia newspapers reported.

The Federal Council may make clarity in these questions today. After the spring holidays, he meets again for a session for the first time.

There are reasonable questions to clarify: Does the Federal Council already have to consult the foreign policy commissions of Parliament for the declaration of intent, the “Letter of Intent”? Or is this necessary when he adopted the actual negotiating mandate?

And above all: What is the Federal Council ready to negotiate with Trump’s government? Is even agriculture no longer taboo? And probably the most important question: lead the negotiations with the United States to a state contract that is subject to a referendum? In this case, in Switzerland there would be a « Trump people’s vote » in Switzerland-with a global attention.

It will be exciting which strategy the Federal Council chooses, also with regard to communication. As a reminder: During the negotiations with Brussels, he published the negotiating mandate in advance.

SP runs up with confrontation course

The National Council’s foreign policy commission already dealt with the US strategy on Tuesday. Among other things, an application from Fabian Molina (SP/ZH) was discussed, which in principle questions the government’s previous strategy.

The Federal Council should “take advantage of suitable counter-measures to the punitive tariffs introduced by the US government in close cooperation with the European Union,” demands the SP National Council. Furthermore, the federal government should not make concessions to Trump’s government, « undermine the democratic scope of action in Switzerland ».

In his reasoning, Molina, for example, mentions the avoidance of the Federal Council on a national regulation of tech platforms such as Google, Meta or X, « so as not to put any further strain on the relationship with the USA ». Such political preliminary achievements « without contractually (…) supported consideration weaken the negotiating position of Switzerland and undermines the principle of reciprocity, » says Molina.

As the foreign policy commission announced on Tuesday afternoon, Molina’s application was rejected with 16 to 8 votes. According to the majority of the commission, it is better at the moment to continue the path of dialogue taken by the Federal Council, according to the communiqué.

It is already the second defeat of the SP in a commission: Two weeks ago, the National Council’s business commission rejected the application of SP-Co President Cédric Wermuth on a complaint from Switzerland against the US tariffs at the World Trade Organization WTO.