被美国关税大棒“敲懵”后 瑞士苦觅良策

Core Viewpoint - Switzerland faces significant challenges due to the recent increase in tariffs imposed by the United States, escalating from 31% to 39%, which has created a sense of humiliation and political division within the country [1][4][11] Group 1: Tariff Changes and Negotiations - The U.S. announced a 31% tariff on Switzerland in April, which was initially postponed, but negotiations in July led to a temporary agreement to reduce it to 10% [3] - On July 31, a conversation between Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter and President Trump resulted in the unexpected increase to 39%, attributed to Trump's anger rather than rational decision-making [3][6] - Following the tariff increase, Swiss leaders attempted to negotiate a revised agreement but were met with refusal from the U.S. [4][9] Group 2: Economic Implications - The U.S. claims a trade deficit with Switzerland, citing it as a reason for the tariffs, with the deficit projected to reach $48 billion in the first half of 2025 [6] - Switzerland's economy is heavily reliant on exports, with a significant trade surplus with the U.S., which includes a service trade surplus of $29.7 billion in 2024 [6][10] - The Swiss government has committed to zero tariffs on all industrial products starting January 1, 2024, allowing 99% of U.S. goods to enter Switzerland duty-free [7] Group 3: Public Sentiment and Future Strategies - A recent poll indicates that nearly two-thirds of Swiss citizens believe the country should not concede to high tariffs imposed by the U.S. [11] - The Swiss government plans to continue negotiations, potentially offering reciprocal conditions similar to those made by Japan and the EU [9] - Despite the challenges, some Swiss officials express optimism about the country's strong economic foundation, which may help mitigate the impact of the tariffs [10]