Overview
- President Donald Trump said discussions to reduce the tariff are progressing and that he has not set a target rate.
- Multiple reports say negotiators are exploring a cut to roughly 15% within about two weeks, though sources caution no agreement is finalized.
- The Swiss National Bank says the outlook has deteriorated due to higher U.S. tariffs, with the economy likely shrinking in the third quarter and unemployment rising.
- A recent Oval Office meeting with Swiss billionaires and executives led Trump to instruct Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to intensify talks with Swiss counterparts.
- The 39% levy, the highest the U.S. applied to a developed country in this round, was justified by a roughly $40 billion goods deficit, and a 15% outcome would align Switzerland with the EU tariff level, with Switzerland reportedly offering U.S. gold-refining investment as a sweetener.