Finance
Swiss industry group urges Switzerland to seal US deal despite court tariff ruling
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 20, 2026
Quick Summary
Swissmem urges Switzerland to finalize a US trade deal despite a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs. An initial accord cut duties from 39% to 15% as talks aim to make the agreement binding amid weaker US-bound exports.
Swissmem presses Bern to finalize U.S. trade deal despite court ruling
Push to Finalize Swiss-U.S. Trade Agreement
ZURICH, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Swiss industry association Swissmem on Friday urged Switzerland to finalize a preliminary trade deal with Washington in order to create legal certainty, despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Tariff Background: 39% Import Duty
Switzerland was subject to the highest U.S. tariffs in Europe when Trump imposed a 39% import duty on its exporters' products in August. In November, Bern secured an initial deal that cut the tariffs to 15%, mirroring the rate for the European Union.
Talks and Timeline to Formalize Deal
Switzerland has since begun talks to formalize that agreement, which Washington has been pressing to conclude by the end of the first quarter.
Call for Legal Certainty
Swissmem said the government would be well advised to turn that preliminary accord into a legally binding deal.
Rationale Despite Court Ruling
"This is because it is to be expected that the Trump administration will invoke other laws to legitimize tariffs," Swissmem said in a statement after the court's ruling.
Swiss Government Response
Separately, the Swiss government said that it would analyze further developments and specific impacts of the Supreme Court decision.
Mechanical & Electrical Sector Hit
Export Impact on Industry
Swissmem said the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering sector posted an 18% drop in exports to the U.S. during the final quarter of last year amid the tariff hit.
(Reporting by Dave Graham, editing by Friederike Heine and Thomas Seythal)
Key Takeaways
- •Swissmem urges Switzerland to finalize a preliminary trade deal with Washington to secure legal certainty.
- •A Supreme Court ruling struck down most Trump-era tariffs, but new levies could be pursued under other laws.
- •Switzerland faced 39% US tariffs; an initial accord trimmed duties to 15%, aligning with the EU rate.
- •Talks are underway to formalize the agreement, with US pressure to conclude by the end of Q1.
- •Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering exports to the US fell sharply in Q4 amid tariff impacts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Swiss industry group urges Switzerland to seal US deal despite court tariff ruling
1What is the main topic?
Swiss industry group Swissmem urges Switzerland to finalize a US trade deal to ensure legal certainty despite a Supreme Court ruling striking down most Trump-era tariffs.
2Why push for a deal after the court ruling?
Swissmem expects US authorities could invoke other laws to reimpose tariffs, so a binding agreement would provide stability for exporters.
3How have tariffs affected Swiss exports?
Switzerland was hit with 39% tariffs that were later reduced to 15% in a preliminary accord, and the sector reported a steep drop in US-bound exports.
