Swiss president Guy Parmelin says US trade talks to continue beyond March

Zurich: Trade talks between Switzerland and the United States will continue beyond March following a preliminary accord on tariffs struck last year, Swiss President Guy Parmelin said.

Switzerland was subject to ‌the highest ⁠U.S. ⁠tariffs in Europe when U.S. President Donald Trump ​in August imposed a 39% duty on products imported ​from the country.

In November, Bern sealed an initial deal to cut the ​tariffs to 15%. Switzerland later ⁠began talks ‌to formalise that accord, which ​Washington ​was pressing to conclude by ⁠the end of March.


In February, the ​U.S. Supreme Court struck down ​Trump's global tariffs, prompting him to order a fresh 10% global duty.

In March, the U.S. launched new investigations against major trading partners, including Switzerland, casting ‌further uncertainty over how talks would proceed.

Parmelin, who is also the ​Swiss economy ​minister, told ⁠state broadcaster RSI this weekend the March target was "de facto" no longer applicable and that negotiations ​would continue.

The next round of Swiss-U.S. trade talks is likely to take place in April, according to two people familiar with the matter.