Terminate fighter jet contracts, push ahead with bilateral contracts or bring Gianni Infantino on board: Swiss politicians have different ideas on how to deal with Donald Trump’s tariffs.Image: watson/Julia Schwamborn
A new tariff rate for Swiss export goods has been in effect since this morning: 12.5 percent. While the left wants to terminate the arms contracts with the USA, the SVP brings Gianni Infantino into play.
July 24, 2026, 1:40 p.mJuly 24, 2026, 1:51 p.m
So now 12.5 percent: This is the new tariff rate that applies to Swiss companies that want to export their products to the USA.
The new tariffs came into force this morning and apply to 60 countries, including Switzerland. A lower tariff rate applies to the EU states: 10 percent.
The new tariffs were necessary because the Supreme Court, the highest court in the USA, had blown the whistle on Trump. The judges ruled that the tariffs he first imposed almost a year ago were unlawful.
That’s why Trump had to put the new tariffs on a new basis. Legally he now argues with forced labor. The states to which the tariffs apply would do too little to prevent them in the products they export to the USA.
An accusation that the bourgeois parties and business associations do not accept, but which is certainly heard on the left. These are the reactions from politics:
Franziska Roth (SP): Stand up
“Once again it shows that the autocrat is doing with us as he wants,” says Franziska Roth, SP Councilor of States from the canton of Solothurn. Switzerland is therefore even worse off than the EU. “The sometimes absurd exceptions show how confused Trump rules.”
For Roth, there is only one recipe: stand up to the USA.
“It would be necessary to counter pressure with the exit from the arms business. The fact that the Federal Council is not acting is further weakening our economy.”
Franziska Roth, SP Councilor of States
Switzerland has signed contracts with the USA for F-35 fighter jets and a missile defense system. The planes are much more expensive than originally agreed; There will be long delivery delays for the Patriot missile defense system.
In both cases, the SP demands that Switzerland withdraw from the contracts.
SP Councilor of States Franziska Roth is campaigning for Switzerland to stand up to the USA more – and to terminate the contract for the F-35 aircraft.Image: keystone
On one point, however, Roth actually agrees with the US President: Switzerland needs to do more when it comes to forced labor. “At least in trade agreements, Switzerland would have to ensure that products and raw materials that are brought onto the Swiss market or intended for export do not come from forced labor,” says Roth, who has submitted a corresponding proposal to parliament.
In the long term, Roth calls for this to be regulated bindingly in a foreign trade law.
Roland Rino Büchel (SVP): Harness Infantino
Roland Rino Büchel, SVP National Councilor from the canton of St.Gallen, predicted the tariff rate of 12.5 percent. For him, this shows: “If you analyze things correctly, US politics under Donald Trump are not that unpredictable.” That’s why Büchel doesn’t want to break out into storms of celebration: “This result isn’t brilliant, but it’s okay.”
Roland Rino Büchel (SVP/SG) correctly predicted the tariff rate of 12.5 percent.Image: KEYSTONE
The noise from business associations complaining that Switzerland has worse tariff rates and greater uncertainty than the EU states annoys Büchel: “This 2.5 percentage point difference is bearable. Our economy can live with this. With the new EU treaties according to the wishes of the economic officials and the left-wing parties, we would be giving up our quintessentially Swiss DNA.”
Büchel chooses an allegory from seafaring:
“We would rather be a small, agile ship that can navigate independently than a passenger on a cumbersome supertanker that has to be considerate of everyone else.”
Roland Rino Büchel, SVP National Councilor
When it comes to further dealings with the US President, Büchel has an unconventional suggestion: “Let’s get Gianni Infantino more involved. He has a very good connection with Donald Trump.”
He demanded this a year ago: “Gianni Infantino can open doors for Switzerland, but of course Guy Parmelin and his people still have to negotiate.”
Andri Silberschmidt (FDP): Do your homework
The new tariff decision is also leading to a certain resignation in politics: “What else does Switzerland want to do?” asks Andri Silberschmidt, FDP National Councilor from the Canton of Zurich.
“This is again a completely arbitrary decision. It is an illusion that there is legal certainty under the Trump presidency.”
Andri Silberschmidt (FDP/ZH) is concerned about Switzerland as a business location.Image: KEYSTONE
Until then, Switzerland must do its own homework. And that means: helping Swiss export companies by opening up additional sales markets, such as with the Mercosur agreement or the free trade agreement with Malaysia.
And: “Switzerland must not become more and more expensive to produce,” says Silberschmidt. “We have to prevent payroll taxes or VAT from skyrocketing. This has happened too often in recent years.”
“We now have to bridge the time until there is a change at the top of the United States.”
Andri Silberschmidt, FDP National Councilor
Switzerland also needs to consolidate bilateral agreements with the EU: “There is a contract package on the table. If we reject this, we will no longer have legal certainty there either,” says Silberschmidt.
Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (Die Mitte): Strengthen bilaterals
“The time of privileged Switzerland is over”: This is how Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter assesses the new US tariff decision. The Basel Center National Councilor sits on the Foreign Policy Commission. Apparently it is no longer possible for Switzerland to independently achieve better deals than its competitors, says Schneider-Schneiter.
Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter emphasizes the importance of the bilateral approach.Image: keystone
Two things would now put a particular strain on the Swiss export economy: “The extreme uncertainty is never ending. And the tables with the EU are not equal,” says Schneider-Schneiter. A tariff rate of 10 percent applies to the EU.
There’s not much you can do about the uncertainty because you’re dependent on Trump’s arbitrary actions. When it comes to unequal treatment with the EU, Schneider-Schneiter clearly demands:
“We have to move forward with Bilateral III. Because the EU market is safe and reliable for us, and we have to take care of that.”
Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, Center National Councilor
Opponents of the contract package could continue to refer to them as “EU turbo”: “It is the most important sales market for our companies. If that goes away too, it will be very difficult.”
Schneider-Schneiter does not believe that anything could have been done differently when dealing with the USA and Donald Trump. “However, I’m also wondering how much longer we want to allow ourselves to be blackmailed.”
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