U.S. President Donald Trump has slapped higher tariffs on Switzerland following a tense phone call with a Swiss official, Sky News reports. According to the Australian edition of Sky News, Trump sharply increased the tariff rate from 30 % to 39 % after a “very aggressive, but nice” conversation with a Swiss leader, which he said left him frustrated and prompted the tougher economic move.
In an interview on Fox Business, Trump described the exchange with the Swiss official, saying he “couldn’t get her off the phone.” He said the dispute over trade terms and Switzerland’s pushback led him to hike the tariff, although he did not specify exactly who he was speaking with.
Trump also noted that Swiss representatives later contacted him seeking relief from the higher tariffs, suggesting that discussions with Bern may continue. The tariff hike is part of Trump’s broader use of trade levies to address what he describes as unfair trade imbalances, particularly with countries running significant surpluses with the United States.
The unexpected escalation adds strain to U.S.–Swiss commercial relations, which involve extensive trade in goods like machinery, watches, and precision instruments. Analysts say such high tariffs could make Swiss exports to the U.S. more expensive and prompt diplomatic negotiations.
The development illustrates how personal diplomatic exchanges can impact international trade decisions, and highlights ongoing tensions as the U.S. continues to reassess its tariff policies with long-standing economic partners.
