Aug 6, 04:53 PM

Swiss President Keller-Sutter Meets Rubio but Leaves Washington Without Deal to Lower Trump’s 39% Tariffs Effective August 7

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter traveled to Washington in early August 2025 to negotiate with the U.S. government in an effort to reduce the 39% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Swiss exports. Accompanied by Economy Minister Guy Parmelin, Keller-Sutter aimed to present a more attractive trade offer to avert the tariffs, which took effect on August 7 and target key Swiss export sectors including gold, pharmaceuticals, and watches. On August 6, the Swiss president met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss trade relations and seek relief from the punitive tariffs. Despite these efforts, the Swiss delegation left Washington without reaching a deal to lower the tariffs. The Swiss government has expressed concern that the tariffs place substantial strain on the country's export-driven economy and warned that if the tariffs remain in place for an extended period, the economic outlook could deteriorate beyond previous June projections. Switzerland has stated it will continue negotiations with the United States and explore relief measures for Swiss businesses, although no countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs are currently being considered. The ongoing discussions remain focused on reducing the additional tariffs, but the Swiss government has declined to provide further details on the talks.