« Switzerland will not participate »

As the State Secretary of Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, the threads of several explosive dossiers come together with Helene Budliger Artieda: the customs war that started by Donald Trump, free trade contracts with states all over the world – and negotiations on wage protection with the unions and employers in Switzerland.

Anyone who is expecting a chief officer on the edge of the nervous breakdown is wrong: Budliger is not very impressed by Trump's threats. Rather, she is concerned about developments in Germany.

I imagine how to drink coffee in the morning morning – until the news comes in the news, which Donald Trump announced and decided overnight. And they are already in the middle of work. Is it so?

Not quite. First I read a newsletter with news from Washington. On the way to the train station I hear radio, namely Radio Pilatus.

Because of the music?

Above all. But mostly I also hear the news at seven.

On a scale from one to ten: How much do you worry about the news from Washington, which you hear almost every day?

At the second, two topics are currently concerned with the second: high -quality computer chips for artificial intelligence. The government of Joe Biden did not divided us into the first, but a second category-that's why we may not have full access to AI chip deliveries from the USA.

Why is that a problem?

This is a problem, especially for research and development in Switzerland, for example in the areas of quantum computing and artificial intelligence, where we are leading in Europe. It is not clear to us why we were divided like this because we work closely with the United States during the export controls. At the moment we are because of clarifying this with Washington.

And the second problem?

The announced punitive tariffs of the Trump administration for steel and aluminum. To do this, I have to say fairly that the United States is trying to protect itself from massive global overproduction with these tariffs. This in an unfair competition, partly distorted by state subsidies.

So you understand Trump's metal tariffs?

What does understanding mean? It is unsightly that Washington is doing so undifferentiated. The tariffs are unfair to us because we are in competition with high production costs, innovation and high quality.

In addition to these concrete problems, there is great uncertainty: How is it going?

There is a new, third challenge. The trade delegate, Jamieson Greer appointed by President Trump, has asked US companies to report unfair trade methods from partner countries. Especially from states of the G20 and countries with a strongly positive trade balance compared to the United States.

How does this affect Switzerland?

We are not a member of the G20, but we have a positive trade balance in goods. That is why we appear on the list of the trade delegate.

Switzerland sits on the dock?

I don't see it that way. Because the title of the list is called « unfair Trade Practice ». We are certainly unable to accuse us of being unfair: Switzerland unilaterally abolished its industrial tariffs, we have no pharmaceutical tariffs. US companies can export their products to Switzerland duty-free.

Doesn't she make Trump's aggressive trade policy nervous?

We have good arguments. And we have been doing exactly what President Trump wants for a long time.

To what extent?

Switzerland is in 6th place in foreign investments in the United States. And Swiss companies create almost half a million jobs in the United States with a very high income of $ 131,000 per job.

The only question is whether the Administration Trump is receptive to this argument.

We can't say that yet. In the first few weeks, so many decrees were enacted that even in the USA nobody has the whole overview. It is unpredictable at the moment.

Are you already in contact with your counterparts in Washington?

No, because these are not yet appointed. Even on lower levels, people are more busy with themselves because the state apparatus is to be massively reduced. We have to be patient. I plan my first visit to Washington under the new government in a few weeks, then we will see.

If you follow the news, there is often talk of a geopolitical turnaround, an impending economic war. But they seem surprisingly calm. Is that played or real?

We already feel a certain nervousness. If, as announced, the United States in April, as announced, also levies punitive tariffs, the EU plans to resign. And there we had bad experiences in the first term of Donald Trump. Because the EU treated us as a third country and we were also hit by its counter -tariffs.

In the meantime, however, the federal government has negotiated the new bilateral contracts with Brussels, the mood is much better. Doesn't that change the starting point?

That is exactly what we say to the EU. We also point out Brussels that punitive tariffs that also hit Switzerland would be counterproductive with regard to the new bilateral contracts.

And if the United States collects penalty tariffs of 25 percent, for example on Swiss medication: is the federal government also plans countermeasures, for example tariffs on typical US products such as Bourbon Whiskey or Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as the EU does?

Switzerland will not participate in a trade war. What would be the threatening setting if Switzerland said with its only 9 million inhabitants, we are now punishing Harley-Davidson? That doesn't impress anyone. We have long said to all of our trading partners, the EU and the USA that punitive tariffs in the end only leave losers. We believe in open markets.

Politically, there is a dispute about whether Switzerland should approach Europe more or to seek proximity to the US government. Which is the right way?

The EU is our most important market, the USA is the second most important market, and China is our market number three. It is not good if our three most important partners are in the argument. Switzerland's strategy must be to have open doors to the EU, the USA and China.

How important are the new EU contracts against this background?

The EU internal market is our home market, to which we have to have the best possible access. That is the policy of the Federal Council. I don't think the world will soon become more orderly and peaceful, there are more unstable times. This is one more reason that speaks for these contracts.

Did the unions and employers also notice this with which they are currently negotiating on the wage protection in Germany?

Geopolitics is not an issue in these conversations. But what I can say: everyone involved wants good wage protection. The methods are discussed. A solution should be available by the end of March. That is what I can say at the moment.

With the EU, Switzerland has the bilateral contracts, with China a free trade agreement. What about the efforts for a free trade agreement with the USA?

This has always been an issue at all meetings for years. Biden didn't want that because there were no majorities in the congress.

SVP national councilor and entrepreneur Magdalena Martullo-Blocher now believes that the Trump administration would be possible. Do you count on martullless help?

I am happy when the private sector tells us what he wants. I am also known for working with both the members of the Parliament and with business representatives. If someone like Ms. Martullo can contribute with good contacts and ideas to get ahead, I really appreciate it.

Many people are concerned about how to proceed. Is Switzerland in a crisis situation?

I don't believe. It is important that we keep a cool head and remember our strengths. Switzerland was probably one of the countries that benefited most from the peace dividend. Hard work is now in demand again.

Do you think we have set it up too comfortably?

Some things have been forgotten. So many people no longer know the importance of the private sector where our prosperity comes from. However, the companies have not managed to explain it to people. We should find back to the typical Swiss pragmatism and not turn wrong in the next few years.

What do you mean?

We have a split society on several fundamental questions: with relationships with the EU, neutrality, war material and solidarity with those who are less good, for example. Sometimes I ask myself: Will this country make it so through the difficult times? I think it would be good if, despite all the differences that may exist, we will approach each other in these questions and find solutions.