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- Economic Minister Guy Parmelin has had talks with several US government officials in Washington.
- Switzerland put an “optimized offer” on the table in the customs dispute.
- The background to 39 percent on many Swiss products is the background.
Parmelin reported in Washington of “constructive meetings” with US government officials. Switzerland sees good opportunities for both countries and wants to strengthen the partnership, he wrote on the platform X.
Parmelin returned to Switzerland together with State Secretary Helen Budliger and the rest of the delegation on Saturday morning. What he had communicated on social media was what he currently has to say was said at his business department at the request of SRF. There are no details about the concrete content of the conversations for “negotiation -tactical reasons”.
Parmelin met Minister of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Minister of Finance Scott Bessent and trade representative Jamieson Greer. He had traveled to Washington on Friday night. The talks are part of the second round of negotiations in the customs dispute with the USA.
Minister of Commerce Howard Lutnick: “I’m not optimistic.”
Keystone
On Friday, Parmelin had not commented on the course after a meeting with Lutnick. When asked by SRF, he only explained: “It went how it went.” Lutnick himself told Bloomberg TV that he was not optimistic. Switzerland earns a lot of money in the United States with its pharmaceutical products, he added.
The US government under President Donald Trump is always ready to listen. Trump is ready and he too, said Minister of Commerce Lutnick, according to “Bloomberg” in the television station of the US economic news agency. If Switzerland suggests a completely new approach, it has an open ear. “Let us hear what you have to say,” said Lutnick about the Swiss delegation.
Improved offer should bring movement
Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis explained to the Keystone-Sda news agency on Friday that Switzerland had worked out an “optimized offer” to the USA. This presented Parmelin in Washington. The government has not yet announced details. Cassis did not comment on the precise program of Parmelin’s journey.
«Everything is not always possible. The first round was unsuccessful, »Cassis told RSI. “However, we launched it again, both in terms of content by improving our proposal and with a diplomatic approach.”
The lead is now at the economic department. “It is an economic problem,” continued Cassis. «That is why my colleague Guy Parmelin is of course available for these meetings if they are desired. The request came yesterday. And that’s why he went for talks to see if our repaired proposal has been traced and understood. »
Federal Councilor Parmelin met US Minister of Trade Lutnick in Washington.
SRF
The new round of negotiations had become necessary after US President Donald Trump imposed import duties from 39 percent to numerous Swiss products in early August. A few days later, Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin traveled to Washington-without results.
US customs policy affects Switzerland particularly hard. At 39 percent, the sentence is significantly higher than, for example, compared to the EU, which is comparatively light -lived with 15 percent.
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