The president of Switzerland deplored the “disappointing” talks with the secretary of the Treasury of the American president Donald Trump who did not facilitate the rigid prices on Swiss goods, but expressed his hope for a solution to a more consecutive confrontation of the commercial war of American China in Geneva this weekend.
Nevertheless, Karin Keller-Sutter, who is also the Minister of Finance of Switzerland, said that she had been encouraged by talks with the American secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent while Bern tries to get rid of the 31% prices on Trump's Swiss goods of “reciprocal” prices of Trump.
Their meeting was just a aperitif for the potentially moved markets on the market on Saturday and Sunday between Bessent and Vice-Prime Minister Chinese, He Lifeng in Geneva.
Keller-Sutter also met the Chinese envoy, but said it was just a courtesy.
As for the American-Chinese talks, the Swiss chief alluded to the elections of the first pontiff of American origin, Pope Leo XIV, and I joked: “I told the secretary Bessent that Apparently, the Holy Spirit was in Rome yesterday and I hope it will come to Geneva this weekend.”
The talks were wrapped in secrets and the Chinese and American parties refused to specify where they will take place that in Geneva, who welcomed US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2021, before the large -scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Although the American administration temporarily suspended the most serious prices against all target countries, except China, the rate of 31% – if it was restored – would put Switzerland in a worse position than its neighbors of the European Union, which should face 20% of American prices.
The Swiss government said its talks with Bessent and the US trade representative Jamieson Greer were “user -friendly and constructive” and aimed to define the guidelines for an agreement on the issue of customs tasks to discuss again in the coming weeks.
On April 9, a week after Trump announced the “reciprocal” pricing package, he spoke with Keller Sutter by phone and then announced a break in their implementation for 90 days and closed the additional American prices at 10% for most countries, with the notable exception of China.
“Of course, it's disappointing,” said Keller-Sutter when he was asked about the absence of an agreement in talks with Bessent, before referring to his previous telephone conversation with Trump.
“I also told President Trump that it was not fair. But on the other hand, you know, I mean, we are not looking back, we are looking forward to.”
“And we are really encouraged by the talks we have had that we will find a solution, and the American side has also been committed to Switzerland to find a quick solution,” she told journalists.
Keller-Sutter underlined the Swiss investment in the United States, saying that he had created 400,000 jobs and “an average salary of $ 130,000 (€ 115,000), which is a lot”.
She said she didn't know if her call with Trump convinced her to get back on the prices, before adding laughing: “He should listen to women.”
Upon entering the weekend talks between Bessent and him, the United States slapped 145% prices on Chinese products and Beijing responded with 125% prices on American products.
ADVERTISEMENTEarlier Friday, Trump launched the prospect that they could be strongly lowered in an article on social networks.
“The 80% price on China looks right!” Trump wrote on his account on social networks, before referring to Bessent. “Until Scott B.”
