‘We will manage to avoid 39% tariffs’, says Swiss-US business leader

The United States plans to impose 39% tariffs on Swiss imports as early as Thursday. Rahul Sahgal, CEO of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, is optimistic that a deal can be reached before then. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox He spoke to Swiss Public Radio SRF following the August 1 announcement of the US tariff rate on Switzerland, which followed discussions between the two countries’ leaders over lower rates. SRF: How surprising was the tariff decision for you, Rahul Sahgal? Rahul Sahgal: It came as quite a surprise, because we thought that a final meeting between [Swiss] President Karin Keller-Sutter and [US President] Donald Trump would serve to get the deal over the finish line, so to speak, and not to call the whole thing into question. SRF: President Keller-Sutter spoke to Trump personally on the phone. There were contacts at the ministerial level, there were positive signals. Switzerland thought it was in a good position. Why this high ...