That glass was shattered last week when Donald Trump announced 39% tariffs on Swiss exports. If Trump maintains the tariffs, sales to the US “will be effectively annihilated”, said Switzerland’s industry lobbying group. The rightwing Swiss business minister, Guy Parmelin, announced a furlough programme to shield the economy from “mass layoffs”. Trump’s tariff shock has provoked a major identity crisis in a country that has grown rich on exports, and done so in splendid isolation from world politics. Trump’s golf-cart style of governing ought to see him fit right in to the Swiss country club.

Source: The Guardian August 13, 2025 22:21 UTC