Customs Deal: Key Information & Updates

by Archynetys News Desk
  • The USA has published its own documents on the customs deal and paints a different picture than the Federal Council.
  • Washington lists 29 conditions that Switzerland must meet in order to receive lower tariffs.
  • For example, Switzerland should adopt American safety standards for cars.
  • The federal government is planning additional weapons purchases in the USA in order to use them as leverage in future negotiations.

A few hours after the Federal Council, the US government also published documents on the customs deal with Switzerland. However, the Americans paint a different picture than the Swiss government, as the “Sonntagszeitung” reports. In a joint statement, the USA and Switzerland list, in diplomatic terms, 29 points that Bern must meet in order to receive lower tariffs.

The White House goes further in a fact sheet. In it, the Americans state bluntly what they expect. Among other things, Switzerland is being asked to adopt American safety standards for cars. Today they have to be adapted for approval on Swiss roads. The Tesla Cybertruck should soon be driving here.

The federal government also wants to buy weapons

The federal government also plans to purchase additional American military equipment in the USA. This is shown by research by “NZZ am Sonntag”. Weapons purchases are not included in the legally non-binding declaration of intent, which sets out the reduction in the tariff rate. But the Federal Council wants to use these transactions as collateral in the subsequent negotiations on a binding agreement with the USA, as several well-informed sources confirm.

Last Wednesday, the Federal Council meeting discussed the purchase of American military equipment, with security politicians mentioning the purchase of additional Patriot systems or guided missiles. (NZZ)

Another point: Switzerland is committed not to continue to raise taxes on services from companies such as Google, Meta or Amazon, even though this has been an issue here for a long time. The White House, on the other hand, finds such taxes “harmful.”

Particularly explosive: The papers published by the Trump administration also mention the adoption of US sanctions against unwanted countries. However, in an interview with the “SonntagsZeitung”, Economics Minister Guy Parmelin denied that Switzerland would be obliged to take on such sanctions. He doesn’t feel any pressure from the USA either.

What do you think of the details about Deal that have now become known?

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Daniela Wyler (wy), born in 1978, has been working from abroad for 20 minutes at the news desk on the night shift since 2023.

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