No submission contract in Switzerland with Trump

The Federal Council is in the customs dispute before negotiations with Donald Trump’s government. He should lead them as hard as that with the EU about bilateral contracts.

First the good news: The Federal Council acts as a team in the global customs war. Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter and Minister of Economics Guy Parmelin lobbyed in Washington on the side of Donald Trump’s nonsensical punitive tariffs in Washington. Supported by three State Secretary and the security advisor who were used according to their strengths and responsibilities. At the same time, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Japan and China maintained contact with other large economic powers. Keller-Sutter has established a direct wire to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

All of this is not a matter of course in our multi -party government, which has already been described as dysfunctional.

The bad news: For dealing with the misleading US president Trump, that means nothing. Because now there is only the more difficult part for the Federal Council: What concessions is Switzerland ready in the upcoming negotiations with Washington?

If you believe the arguments that the Federal Council repeats constantly, the answer can actually only be: too none! With the billions of investments by Swiss companies, the highly paid jobs and the promotion of innovation in overseas, Switzerland has long been doing enough to thrive the United States. We have a fair relationship.

This perspective does not withstand this perspective in the reality of power. Trump’s America is simply too powerful and too ruthless to be ignored. Too many jobs in Switzerland depend on the accompanying coexistence.

It will therefore not be without concessions. It should be ensured that this does not increase the dependence of Switzerland on the United States – especially in the security area. Because with Trump’s troop at the top, it is anything but certain that the United States remains in the circle of the rule of law.

Switzerland has to conduct negotiations with Washington as hard as those with Brussels about the new bilateral agreements in recent years. The Federal Council poker at times – and achieved a lot in the end. What Switzerland needs is legal certainty, but not a submission contract with Donald Trump.