Switzerland’s president lamented “disappointing” talks Friday with U.S. President Donald Trump’s treasury secretary that didn’t ease stiff U.S. tariffs on Swiss items, however she expressed hope for an answer to a extra consequential U.S.-China face-off on tariffs in Geneva this weekend.
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, who additionally serves as finance minister, stated she was nonetheless inspired by the talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as Switzerland tries to wriggle out of hefty 31% U.S. tariffs on Swiss items as a part of Trump’s sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs on international locations across the globe.
Their assembly was solely an appetizer for the doubtless market-moving talks Saturday and Sunday between Bessent and Chinese language Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva. Keller-Sutter additionally met with the Chinese language envoy, however stated it was merely a courtesy.
As for the U.S.-China talks, the Swiss chief alluded to the election of the first U.S.-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, and quipped: “I stated to Secretary Bessent that apparently the Holy Spirit was in Rome yesterday, and I hope that he’ll come to Geneva over the weekend.”
The talks have been shrouded in secrecy and the Chinese language and U.S. sides have declined to specify the place they may happen apart from someplace in Geneva, which hosted U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2021—earlier than Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Whereas the U.S. administration has quickly suspended essentially the most extreme tariffs in opposition to each goal nation besides China, the 31% price—if restored—would put Switzerland in a worse place than its neighbors within the European Union, that are to face 20% U.S. tariffs on EU items.
The Swiss authorities stated its talks Friday with Bessent and U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer have been “convivial and constructive” and have been aimed to put out the rules for a deal on the difficulty of customs duties to be mentioned once more in coming weeks.
On April 9—per week after Trump introduced the U.S. “reciprocal” tariffs—he spoke with Keller-Sutter by telephone and later introduced a pause of their implementation for 90 days and capped the extra U.S. tariffs at 10% for many international locations, with the notable exception of China.
“In fact, it’s disappointing,” Keller-Sutter stated when requested in regards to the lack of a deal in talks with Bessent, earlier than alluding to her earlier telephone dialog with Trump. “I additionally advised President Trump that this was not honest. However alternatively, you recognize, I imply, we’re not wanting again, we’re wanting ahead.”
“And we’re actually inspired by the talks we had that we’re going to discover a resolution, and the U.S. facet actually engaged with Switzerland additionally to discover a swift resolution,” she advised reporters.
Keller-Sutter trumpeted Swiss investment in the United States, saying it has created 400,000 jobs and “common wage $130,000, which is rather a lot” in america. She stated she didn’t know whether or not her name with Trump on April 9 satisfied him to ease again on the tariffs, earlier than including with amusing: “He ought to take heed to girls.”
Going into the weekend talks between Bessent and He, the U.S. slapped 145% tariffs on Chinese language items, and Beijing has responded with 125% tariffs on U.S. items. Earlier Friday, Trump floated the prospect that those could be lowered sharply in a social media publish.
“80% Tariff on China appears proper!” Trump wrote on his social media account, earlier than alluding to Bessent. “As much as Scott B.”
—Jamey Keaten, Related Press
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