US tariffs discussions could potentially include involvement of tennis legend Roger Federer or FIFA president Gianni Infantino
In a recent turn of events, Switzerland finds itself in a challenging trade situation with the United States, following the imposition of a 39% import duty on various Swiss products. The Swiss government, led by President Karin Keller-Sutter, is determined to address this issue and restore more balanced trade terms.
The Swiss Federal Council decided on August 4, 2025, to continue negotiations with the U.S., aiming to remedy the trade imbalance and reduce tariffs. The government is aligning closely with affected industries such as watchmaking, machinery, and specialty foods, which face severe impacts from the high tariffs.
The Swiss government stresses safeguarding conditions comparable to those of other trading partners of the U.S., implying negotiations seek equitable tariff treatment and possibly concessions or exemptions. The government remains in touch with Swiss businesses to understand and mitigate economic damage, for example by helping firms plan around tariff costs and inventory management.
Swiss enterprises are pressured to absorb tariffs or adjust supply chains, but the government’s negotiating stance focuses on constructive dialogue with U.S. officials to restore more balanced trade terms. No publicly available details in these sources specify particular negotiation offers or countermeasures by Switzerland beyond continuing talks and emphasizing fair treatment.
The context suggests these efforts are urgent and integral to mitigating a sharp negative shock for Swiss exports to the U.S. due to the newly imposed 39% tariff. President Keller-Sutter warns that Switzerland will not pay "any price" after an earlier agreement was brushed aside by Trump.
In a somewhat unusual turn, Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, has been proposed as an informal negotiating channel with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the Swiss government has not officially pursued a strategy involving Infantino or tennis legend Roger Federer speaking with Trump.
President Keller-Sutter notes that Swiss companies are investing heavily in the United States. She expresses hope about U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's comments that trade issues could be resolved by October. The negotiations with Washington regarding the tariff burden will be led by the Swiss government, not Infantino or Federer.
Keller-Sutter states that it cannot be that Switzerland just pays more, worsens its business location, and still has high customs duties. She expresses uncertainty about whether an intervention by Infantino or Federer would actually help in the end. Despite this, she acknowledges that if personalities who know Trump have a conversation with him, it would not be against the government's policy.
The global trade reset went into effect last week, and the Swiss delegation aimed to discuss trade and reset strained relations with the U.S. during a meeting with President Trump. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who included popular golfers in his delegation to Washington in May, confronted Trump with false claims of white genocide and land seizures during the same meeting.
President Keller-Sutter hopes talks to cut U.S. tariffs on Swiss exports could be settled by October. The urgency of the situation is evident, as the 39% import levy is one of the highest under Trump’s global trade reset, affecting Switzerland significantly. The Swiss government's strategy for negotiating tariff reduction with the U.S. is a delicate balance of ongoing negotiations, coordination with industry, seeking reciprocity and fairness, monitoring economic impact, and adapting to the U.S. trade policy context.
Given the trade tensions with the United States, Swiss politics now center around war-and-conflicts and general-news topics, as the Swiss government works to address the recent 39% import duty on various products from Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Council has decided to negotiate with the U.S. to remedy the trade imbalance and reduce tariffs, aligning closely with affected industries such as watchmaking, machinery, and specialty foods. The negotiations will be urgent, focusing on constructive dialogue to restore more balanced trade terms, and the government is seeking equitable tariff treatment and possibly concessions or exemptions.
