Trump's Ego Pained Switzerland: Trump Reveals Why He Raised Tariffs On Switzerland After That One Phone Call

The article reports on the US decision to raise tariffs on Swiss imports to 39 percent following a conversation with Karin Keller-Sutter, the subsequent 15 percent deal, and the $200 billion investment pledge by Swiss firms. It notes potential future tariff movements and the broader trade deficit context.

US President Donald Trump said tariffs on Swiss imports jumped to 39 percent after a tense call with Swiss Federal Council member Karin Keller-Sutter.

Trump said Keller-Sutter’s tone during the discussion changed his stance on a planned cut, turning it instead into a sharp increase on goods entering the United States from Switzerland.

The United States and Switzerland later reached an agreement in November to scale the tariff back to 15 percent. Under that deal, Swiss companies pledged $200 billion of investment in the US by 2028. Trump still warned that tariff levels could rise again, depending on future trade and political decisions.

US tariffs on Switzerland Tariff Details

In an exclusive Interview with Fox Business, US President Donald Trump argued that Switzerland had enjoyed very low tariffs for years while selling into the US market. Trump linked that policy to a $42 billion trade deficit. Trump said this gap showed that the previous system was unfair to American producers and workers.

In the interview, Trump described a long-standing pattern in trade with Bern. “You know, I had an incident with a very nice country, Switzerland. They were paying no tariffs when sending stuff over here -- like nobody could believe it -- and we had a $42 billion deficit. We weren't taking anything, and I said, 'We have to do something, because we have to even that up a little bit.' I didn't have to get anything all at once, so I put on a 30% tariff, which was too low. Still, we were having a big deficit, but it was half the deficit," he said.

A Phone Call That Changed Tariff, 'I Didn't Like The Way...'

The dispute escalated after Keller-Sutter contacted Trump to push back against the higher trade duties. Trump repeatedly described Keller-Sutter, incorrectly, as Switzerland’s Prime Minister, although Keller-Sutter actually served as a member of the Swiss Federal Council. Trump said this call came after the 30 percent duty still left a large trade gap.

Trump said Keller-Sutter strongly argued that Switzerland could not bear such tariffs. "She was very aggressive but nice, very aggressive. She said, 'Sir, we are a small country. We can't do this. We can't do this.' I couldn't get her off the phone," Trump recalled. Trump said Keller-Sutter stressed that Switzerland was “small, small,” but Trump insisted, "You may be a small country, but we have a $42 billion deficit with you."

Trump said the phone exchange changed his earlier plan to soften the tariff rate. "I didn't really like the way she talked to us, so instead of giving her a reduction, I raised it to 39 percent," Trump said. Trump also criticised perceptions of Switzerland, adding, "You know Switzerland, you think of it as ultra-chic, ultra-perfect. They are not. They are only that because we allow them to rip us off and make all this money," he said.

Trump framed the Swiss case as part of a broader pattern in US trade policy. Trump claimed many countries benefited from very low American tariffs while selling heavily into the US market. "I could say the same thing with another 40 countries. Some are much more egregious," he added. Trump said this was why tariffs remained central in the administration’s trade strategy.

US tariffs on Switzerland, Davos comments and investment pledges

During the Davos Summit in January, Trump said business groups from Switzerland, including watchmaker Rolex, lobbied for a lower rate. Trump said the November deal, which cut the tariff to 15 percent, followed these contacts and the investment pledge. "I reduced it because I don't want to hurt people. Doesn't mean it's not going up," he said, leaving open future tariff hikes.

Key numbers in the dispute over US tariffs on Switzerland are shown below, including trade deficit figures, tariff shifts and investment promises agreed by both sides.

The Swiss tariff episode showed how Trump linked personal conversations, trade balances and policy shifts. The United States moved from negligible duties to 39 percent and then back to 15 percent, while Switzerland accepted large investment commitments. Trump still signalled that tariff levels, and the wider debate over trade deficits, could return to US politics.