Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed hope that the high US customs duties imposed on Switzerland can be reduced, noting some EU tariffs were already lowered. Merz highlighted that tariffs on specific products, including steel and aluminium, remain as high as 50%. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter emphasized that responsibility for resolving the tariff issue rests with Switzerland because the country is not an EU member and not part of the Customs Union. Keller-Sutter noted that parliament in Bern had already put forward a new offer. Both leaders discussed the tariffs during a bilateral meeting in Berlin.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that while Germany did not plan to intervene directly, he had spoken with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter about the new US tariffs. "I very much hope that it's successful that the exorbitantly high customs duties currently demanded by the US for Switzerland can be reduced," Merz said. He noted that the EU had managed to somewhat reduce US tariffs, but said certain products like steel and aluminium were as high as 50%.
He noted that the EU had managed to somewhat reduce US tariffs, but said certain products like steel and aluminium were as high as 50%. Keller-Sutter said that 'at the end of the day Switzerland must solve this problem itself,' given that it is not an EU member and not part of the Customs Union. 'That's not a question of neutrality'
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