United States and Switzerland They reached an agreement this past Friday to reduce tariffs up to 15%, which includes the “unprecedented” opening of the Swiss market to American companies and a multi-million dollar investment by the Central European country in the North American nation, according to the White House.
This framework agreement, which also includes the Principality of Liechtenstein, cuts the initial fee 39% imposed by the President’s Government, Donald Trumpto Switzerland last August and places it at the same level as the rate negotiated with the European Union.
The “historic” trade agreement “will provide American exporters with unprecedented access to the Swiss and Liechtenstein markets and will drive billions of dollars in investments on American soil, creating thousands of jobs throughout the United States,” indicates the fact sheet published by the Administration.
Specifically, the pact ensures the entry of some 200 billion dollars from Switzerland and Liechtensteinof which at least 67 billion will be invested in 2026, in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical devices, aerospace, construction, advanced manufacturing, gold smelting and energy infrastructure.
The White House mentioned commitments already established with companies such as pharmaceutical companies Roche and Novartis, technology company ABB and Swiss railway vehicle manufacturer Stadler, which will move part of their production to the United States.
Besides, The US will be able to export to Switzerland and Liechtenstein several of its key agricultural products, including carne of chicken, bison and beef, along with seeds, fruitschemicals and alcoholic beverages, under preferential tariffs and quotas.
The Trump Administration indicated that the parties will conclude negotiations to reach a definitive agreement in early 2026. According to Washington, the adoption of this agreement will eliminate by 2028 the $38.5 billion in trade deficit that Washington maintains with Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
“We are very excited about this agreement and what it means for the American manufacturing industry,” the US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, said hours before, announcing the closing of the framework pact.
The announcement came after the Minister of Economy and Vice President of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin, traveled to the US capital to negotiate with the Republican Government a tax cut at the level of that achieved by the EU and other economies.
In August, the US imposed tariffs of 39% on Switzerland, one of the highest rates of the Trump Administration on its trading partners, under the argument of the large Swiss trade surplus in bilateral exchanges.
This tax has had serious repercussions on important industries in the Central European country, such as watchmaking and mechanics or the food sector, particularly popular exports such as chocolate and cheese.