Overview

• A 39% U.S. import tariff on many Swiss goods has been in force since Aug. 7, well above the 15% rate reported for competing EU products.
• Swissmem reports a sharp slowdown with orders down 13.4% in Q2 versus Q1 and first‑half exports off 0.9% year over year, driven by a 16.8% drop in Asia.
• Surveys taken on and after Aug. 7 show about 31% of firms plan to shift business to the EU and 37% are preparing layoffs.
• Swiss authorities are working with industry on potential concessions intended to persuade Washington to reduce the tariff burden.
• On Aug. 26, Germany’s VDMA warned EU chief Ursula von der Leyen that the deal puts many firms at risk and urged exemptions for machinery along with relief from steel and aluminum derivative duties.