列国鉴丨记者观察：被美国关税大棒“敲懵”后，瑞士苦觅良策

Core Points - Switzerland faced a significant increase in tariffs from the US, rising from 31% to 39%, which is the highest in Europe and among the top globally for US trade partners [1][3] - The Swiss government is struggling to negotiate lower tariffs, with the US administration's stance being influenced by President Trump's perception of trade imbalances [2][4] - The Swiss economy is heavily reliant on exports, particularly to the US, which has led to concerns about the impact of these tariffs on domestic industries and employment [5][8] Summary by Sections Tariff Increase - The US announced a tariff increase on Switzerland from 31% to 39%, effective August 7, which has caused significant discontent among the Swiss populace [1][3] - The Swiss government had previously negotiated a framework to reduce tariffs to 10%, but this was not honored by the US [2][3] Economic Impact - The US trade deficit with Switzerland was reported at $38.3 billion in 2024, expected to rise to $48 billion in the first half of 2025, primarily due to increased gold imports [4] - The Swiss economy is characterized by a high GDP per capita of approximately $92,000, ranking among the top globally, which contrasts with the US's $81,000 [4] Negotiation Challenges - The Swiss government plans to continue negotiations with the US, considering strategies used by Japan and the EU to secure better terms [8] - Despite efforts to negotiate, the Swiss economy has limited leverage due to its smaller size compared to the US [8][9] Public Sentiment - A recent poll indicated that nearly two-thirds of Swiss respondents believe the country should not concede to high tariffs imposed by the US [10]