Switzerland and the United States have agreed to accelerate their ongoing trade negotiations, with both nations expressing a strong commitment to reaching a swift agreement, according to Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter. Although no specific timeline was given, she emphasised the shared determination to expedite the process.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Friday, Keller-Sutter described her meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the chief U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer as “positive,” noting that the two sides had pledged to move forward with renewed urgency.
“We both actually made a commitment today that the process would be hastened,” Keller-Sutter said. “Both sides are determined to find a solution quickly. That was clearly palpable today and was a clear commitment, including by the American side,” she added.
The push for rapid progress comes as Switzerland looks to reduce tariffs that were imposed under former President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies. These measures have significantly disrupted global trade flows in an effort to cut the U.S. trade deficit.
Swiss exports to the U.S. — its largest single trading partner — were particularly affected by a hefty 31% tariff, which far exceeded the 20% imposed on the European Union and the 10% on the United Kingdom. The disparity took Swiss officials by surprise, who viewed the decision as both unjustified and detrimental.
Keller-Sutter said that while the U.S. could not guarantee Switzerland would be second in line after Britain, American officials had indicated that the country was part of a select group of nations with which they intended to fast-track discussions.
