How high is the price debt: Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin explains the customs deal with the USA to the media.Image: keystone
The relief is followed by question marks: The Federal Council is criticized for providing non-transparent information about the concessions that Switzerland made to the US government.
November 16, 2025, 4:48 p.mNovember 16, 2025, 4:51 p.m
Christoph Bernet / ch media
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin (SVP) said he only slept for three hours on the Federal Council jet on the return flight from Washington to Bern on Friday night “Sunday newspaper” on record. «That’s not much. But there’s also adrenaline involved.”
After landing in Bern-Belp at 7:07 a.m. on Friday morning, Parmelin started the day that was supposed to bring a breakthrough in the US customs dispute with correspondingly little sleep.
Immediately after landing, Parmelin held final consultations with his Federal Council colleagues. At midday he informed the parliamentary group and party leaders at the Von Wattenwyl talks about the result. At 4:30 p.m. Parmelin finally appeared before the media together with State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda.
They presented the most important key points the joint statement agreed between Switzerland and the USA. The document is not legally binding. However, it forms the basis for the upcoming negotiations on a binding agreement with the USA.
From a Swiss perspective, the most important sentence of the “Joint Statement”: The tariff rate on exports to the USA falls from 39 percent to 15 percent – the same value that the USA also imposes on imports from the EU.
Sovereign Switzerland or unilateral US dictate?
Parmelin appeared satisfied in front of the media. The declaration of intent represents “a great relief for the Swiss economy” and stabilizes access to the US market.
The Federal Council has not made any concessions to the USA that would question Swiss sovereignty or neutrality, emphasized Parmelin: “I can assure you that the Federal Council resolutely defends Switzerland’s interests and will continue to do so in the future.”
However, the statement by State Secretary Budliger Artieda left a different impression. The negotiations are “a unilateral process that was initiated by the USA”. The USA decided what it would take to go down from 39 to 15 percent: “Switzerland couldn’t decide that.”
“Switzerland couldn’t decide that”: State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda.Image: keystone
That’s why too Doubts grew over the weekend on Parmelin’s words. Did Switzerland make too far-reaching concessions to Trump in order to satisfy the US President? Parliament has criticized several points in the joint declarations in which Switzerland has signaled its willingness to accommodate.
Sanctions, export and investment controls
According to the joint declaration, the existing cooperation in this area should be “strengthened”. The fact sheet published by the US government on the deal with Switzerland even mentions an “expansion of cooperation”. When asked by CH Media, Parmelin’s head of communications Urs Wiedmer said: “As a sovereign state, Switzerland decides independently whether and in which areas it adopts appropriate measures to protect its national interests.”
agriculture
As soon as the US government puts the lower tariff rate of 15 percent into effect, the Federal Council will lift Swiss tariffs on certain US agricultural products such as fish, seafood, fresh and dried nuts or citrus fruits. The approval requirements for meat and dairy products from the USA are to be simplified. Switzerland also allows duty-free imports of 500 tons of beef, 1,000 tons of bison meat and 1,500 tons of poultry meat. Parmelin showed up in the “Sunday newspaper” open to having a discussion about the approval of chlorinated chickens, which were previously banned in this country. However, this requires a change in the law.
Farmers’ Association President and Center National Councilor Markus Ritter said this “Sunday view”: “Swiss agriculture must not suffer from the customs deal.” If she suffers disadvantages as a result, Ritter will demand accompanying measures. “With structural and investment aid, agricultural buildings can, for example, be renovated or newly built.”
US cars
According to the joint statement, Switzerland intends to work with the USA on a simplified recognition of American safety standards for US cars. Until now, these had to be adapted to Swiss requirements at great expense. The “Sunday newspaper” raised the question of whether pickups and cybertrucks would be on Swiss roads in the future. There are certain expectations from the United States, Parmelin acknowledged. But the declaration is not legally binding. The final result will only be determined after the negotiations have been concluded by the Federal Council.
Opposite the “NZZ on Sunday” SP co-president Cédric Wermuth accused the Federal Council of not fully informing the population on Friday about the extent of Switzerland’s concessions. The price tag of the deal is therefore completely unclear. “The Federal Council acts in an opaque manner.”
An extremely ambitious schedule
In fact, the text of the “Joint Statement” was not available when Parmelin appeared before the media on Friday – publication by the Americans had been delayed. The White House posted the text online on Friday evening (Swiss time). Due to an “internal misunderstanding,” the Swiss authorities only published the document on Sunday. Since it is legally non-binding, it will not be translated into the national languages, explains the economic department.
The Federal Council will now “quickly” decide on a formal negotiating mandate and consult the foreign policy commissions and the cantons about it. If negotiations with the USA are successfully concluded, Parliament must approve the agreement. If the referendum is held, the population will have the final say. An agreement by the end of March 2026, as stated in the “Joint Statement”, is ambitious.
A lot can still happen before the deal is settled. The legendary volatility of US President Trump, who sometimes throws agreements off the table on a whim, is likely to give Federal Councilor Parmelin a few more short nights. (aargauerzeitung.ch)
More about the customs deal with the USA