Hit by 39% tariffs, Switzerland attempts to appease the United States with new arms orders.

https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/entreprises/defense/frappee-par-des-droits-de-douane-de-39-la-suisse-tente-d-amadouer-les-etats-unis-avec-de-nouvelles-commandes-d-armes_AD-202508110251.html

by SraminiElMejorBeaver

32 comments

  3. >**Switzerland could acquire more US military equipment in an attempt to reduce the 39% U.S. tariffs.**

    >The equation is simple: from armament to a reduction in customs duties. Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister said on Sunday that he was “open” to the idea of placing new arms orders from the United States in an attempt to reduce the exorbitant tariffs imposed by Washington. Berne is seeking further discussions with the US, after a last-minute mission to the US capital failed to prevent the application of a 39% tariff, [described as a “disaster scenario”](https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/international/la-suisse-visee-par-des-droits-de-douane-de-39-des-jeudi-sa-presidente-s-envole-pour-washington-pour-proposer-une-offre-plus-attrayante-a-trump_AD-202508050299.html) by Swiss companies.

    >”Military shopping is important for relations with the United States,” Martin Pfister told the Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS. “However, we must first find a way to discuss with the Americans” in an attempt to advance relations as a whole, he added.

    >US President Donald Trump caught Switzerland off guard by announcing that the rich Alpine country would be hit by some of the highest tariffs it imposed on the world, which came into effect on Thursday, August 7.Switzerland could acquire more US military equipment in an attempt to reduce the 39% U.S. tariffs.

    >These tariffs put at risk [of entire sectors of the Swiss economy](https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/international/les-droits-de-douane-concernent-aussi-les-lingots-d-or-un-nouveau-coup-dur-pour-la-suisse-deja-dans-le-collimateur-de-trump_AD-202508080221.html), which are heavily export-oriented, in particular watchmaking and industrial machinery, but also chocolate and cheese. Swiss companies fear that their competitors in other rich economies will benefit, with the European Union and Japan negotiating a 15% tariff and Britain having achieved a rate of only 10%.

    >**Confirmation of F-35 contract**

    >Switzerland argued that the United States has a significant trade surplus in the area of services and that most United States industrial products enter Switzerland without customs duties. Martin Pfister pointed out that the government had decided not to call into question Switzerland’s current contract for the purchase of 36 new Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircraft. “The issue of fixed prices remains to be resolved”, he added.

    >While Swiss Confederation President Karin Keller-Sutter went to Washington to reach [a customs duty agreement, to no avail,](https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/international/frappee-de-droits-de-douane-exorbitants-de-39-la-suisse-rentre-bredouille-de-washington-apres-avoir-tente-de-convaincre-trump_AD-202508070178.html) Armaments General Manager Urs Loher was “on a working visit” at the same time at the F-35 production site in Forth Worth, Texas. There he met representatives of the manufacturer Lockheed Martin, “for a professional exchange”, says Armasuisse, the federal arms office.

  4. Rule 1 – don’t give a bully anything, he’ll just keep bullying you even harder

  5. It started with corruption to end with extortion and it doesn’t seem Switzerland will fight back.

  7. On this example, you could see how politicians are all bought by big companies.

    Didn’t see the same urgency in their actions when approaching social problems.

  9. Wow surely this doesn’t make Europe (EU and allies) look weak they say jump we only ask how high yayyy‼️

  14. Nobody should be buying *or* selling any arms from the Swiss after they refused to allow ammo that was owned by Germany from being donated to Ukraine.

    If they want an arms industry it should be purely to supply their own country and nobody should support them by trading weapons with them in either direction.

  17. What a misleading headline. Also, commentators of r/europe – I know this is reddit – but read the god damn article before you leave your uninformed posts.

  18. Basically a bribe. Just easier ( and more effective ) to give Don the money directly, not like they will actually use weapons to defend the democratic world.

    Drop the act, you no longer need to pretend. Everyone has seen who cares ( or pretends to care ) about “democratic values” , “rules based order” and “defending human rights” in the last few years.

  21. last few years im realizing more and more most of europeans have no self respect

  22. What more can you expect from a country that stayed neutral in both world wars and haven’t been involved in a conflict with any nation since the Napoleonic Era.

    These guys have a history of kneeling to the bullies for an easy life while claiming neutrality to not deal with consequences from any side. Some call it cleverness, I call it cowardice. They stand for nothing.

  23. Whenever I look at the chicken coop that is our parliament and Bundesrat, I wonder how we managed to smooth sail through decades of peace and prosperity. I am in absolute awe when I read stuff like this.

  27. You know they are NOT enjoying needing another country for anything publicly.

    Behind the scenes, they need other countries for everything, but this is out in the open.

  28. Lol you guys literally deserve to be taken advantage of

    That’s wild you did that

  30. Trump: “They are kissing my ass”.

    Is there anyone in Europe with a spine?

  31. If we all stood together we’d have some chance, but no, everyone behaved in the cowardly way Trump predicted.

  32. Please remember that they got 39% becasue trade deficit was 39bln.

    That is Trump “logic.”

    They should not try to buy arms.

    They should give Trump personal presents.

    Gold bar with huge TRUMP on top.(Doesn’t need to be gold on the inside).

    Golden Patek Philippe “for the best golfer there is”.

    Underage girls that look exactly like Ivanka 

    Those kind of stuff will change Trump mind.

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