Even though Switzerland’s president Karin-Keller Sutter is currently in Washington in an attempt to lower the 39-percent customs duties imposed on Swiss imports, her hopes of getting a better deal could be dashed.
Though miracles do happen (at least in theory), experts say that the odds of getting at least the same tariffs as the European Union — that is, 15 percent — are not stacked in Switzerland’s favour.
This dim forecast has nothing to do with the fact that Trump doesn’t seem to know who Keller-Sutter is, having referred to her as ‘Prime Minister’ in an interview with US media.
The real reasons for this bleak outlook, experts say, lie elsewhere.
Best tactic: stroking Trump’s ego
According to Swiss negotiation expert Frédéric Mathier, “Trump wants a stage, not a lecture. If you don’t give him the feeling that he in the boss, the shutter goes down immediately.”
Furthermore, what the Swiss government considers as diplomacy, “apparently comes across as lecturing to Trump — and that is exactly what happened in the conversation with Keller-Sutter.”
Another negotiations expert, Daniel Ames from Columbia University, told Swiss media that Trump’s actions are not based on logic, reason, or facts.
Instead, “Trump conducts negotiations like a poker player, not like a statesman; he wants to win, not discuss,” Ames said. “What counts for Trump is who flatters him — and who delivers him the media victory.”
All this doesn’t bode well for Switzerland’s 11th-hour attempt to save the country’s economy: the new tariffs are supposed to go into effect on August 7th.
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Should Switzerland kowtow to Trump to boost its chances?
“That sounds very medieval,” said Thomas Borer, a Swiss diplomat formerly stationed in the United States.
“Certainly, Donald Trump behaves like a feudal potentate with the power of economic life or death over countries, jobs, and people. But that is no reason to lose our dignity.”
“One day,” Borer added, “Donald Trump will no longer be here, but our integrity will remain intact.”