Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy
Trump made direct financial demands during call with Swiss president
During the telephone call between Karin Keller-Sutter and Donald Trump on July 31, Trump demanded direct payments from Switzerland, according to an investigation by SonntagsBlick. Contrary to initial assumptions, the conversation was not initiated by Keller-Sutter, but by the US Trade Representative.
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Swiss businesses plan employee pay raises in 2026
Swiss companies' expectations for salary growth are down by 0.3 percentage points compared to a year ago. These are the findings of the latest salary survey conducted by the Center for Economic Research (KOF) at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. The survey was conducted with around 4,500 firms.
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Over 6,000 apprenticeships remain unfilled in Switzerland
By mid-August, which is the start of the Swiss school year, some 6,400 apprenticeship vacancies remain, mainly in the construction, catering and machinery industries. This is a quarter fewer than 12 months ago (8,500). +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox These figures, published on Friday by the Yousty apprenticeship platform, show …
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US tariffs putting 100,000 jobs at risk in Switzerland
United States tariffs of 39% on Swiss imports will directly affect 100,000 jobs in Switzerland, mainly in the watchmaking, machinery, metals, and food industries, warned the business umbrella organisation economiesuisse on Friday. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox For the Swiss business federation, "the consequences could be even heavier, as suppliers and service providers also suffer indirectly".
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Larry Finck and André Hoffmann named interim co-chairs of WEF board
In a separate statement, the WEF also revealed an investigation commissioned by the board has cleared its founder Klaus Schwab and his wife of accusations made against them by anonymous whistleblowers. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "There is no evidence of serious misconduct on the part of Klaus Schwab. Similarly, …
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Swiss economy stagnates in second quarter
After a strong start to the year, the Swiss economy has slowed considerably. In the second quarter, gross domestic product (GDP) rose by just 0.1% on an adjusted basis compared to the previous quarter. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox A negative trend in industry was offset by growth in the … Continue...
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Lufthansa mulls importing its future Boeing aircraft via Switzerland
Lufthansa is considering buying new Boeing aircraft from the United States via Switzerland. This measure could reduce the US trade deficit with Switzerland and thus help the country to avoid punitive customs duties, according to a report in the Tages-Anzeiger. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The order from German airline …
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Switzerland follows the EU with new sanctions against Russian oil
Switzerland is stepping up its sanctions against Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine. The measures are aimed at Russia's oil windfall. The European Union (EU) approved the same package of sanctions in mid-July, the 18th since the start of the war. A total of 14 new individuals and 41 new companies and …
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Last Swiss paper manufacturer cuts jobs due to high costs
Perlen Papier in Root, canton Lucerne, plans to cut 65 jobs to reduce costs. In addition to measures to increase efficiency and reduce costs, job cuts are also unavoidable, the company announced in a statement on Monday. Employees have been informed of the measures and a social plan will be implemented, the statement added. +Get …
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Gold will not be subject to tariffs, says Trump
'Gold will not be subject to tariffs,' American President Donald Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social on Monday. Last week, it was unclear whether the new tariffs would also be imposed on gold bars from Switzerland. Trump himself weighed in on the issue of gold tariffs after confusion and panic triggered by the … Continue reading »
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Trump’s tariffs expose weakness of Switzerland’s economic independence
It’s not often that Switzerland finds itself at the sharp end of a global trade dispute. Even less often is it singled out with punitive action from a major trading partner. But this month, the US imposed a 39% tariff on most Swiss goods after a seven-day grace period lapsed. It is a rate more … Continue reading...
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Reinsurer Swiss Re issues longevity drug guidelines
Reinsurer Swiss Re has introduced guidelines for so-called longevity drugs. Specifically, the guidelines target drugs such as metformin and rapamycin, which were originally developed for other purposes and are used by certain individuals to prolong their lives. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox As the long-term effects are still uncertain, Swiss …
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Swiss hospitals faced CHF750 million loss in 2024
The loss-making hospitals in Switzerland posted a loss totalling CHF750 million ($926 million) in 2024. Despite an increase in turnover and fee increases, more than half of the service providers posted negative operating results after deducting depreciation. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This is the result of a study of …
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Novartis posts encouraging results for Sjögren’s syndrome therapy
Good news in research for Novartis. The pharmaceutical giant has achieved the hoped-for results for Ianalumab, a candidate for the treatment of Sjögren’s Syndrome, a serious autoimmune disease. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In the phase III trials Neptunus-1 and Neptunus-2, the therapy reduced disease activity in patients, a statement …
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Why Are So Many People Leaving Switzerland? | #switzerland #migration
The high immigration figures for Switzerland make it easy to forget that not everyone who arrives is going to stay.
In fact, the Alpine country has a comparatively high ratio of emigrants to immigrants.
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swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events.
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US tariffs: pharma firms not planning job cuts in Switzerland
The additional investments in the US will not lead to a reduction in jobs in Switzerland. This is according to pharmaceutical giant Roche, which expects the number of employees to remain stable in the current year. The position of Novartis is similar. "With our recent $50 billion (CHF 40.4 billion at today's exchange rate) investment …
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Swiss government working with firms to overcome high US tariffs
The Swiss delegation that travelled to Washington has returned from talks on tariffs in the United States. The negotiations are now being conducted under the aegis of the government and the federal administration. "The federal administration has very close and regular contacts with the Swiss economy at all levels. Such cooperation has always been a …
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WTO improves its world trade forecast thanks to Trump’s tariffs
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) expects world trade to grow by 0.9% this year, better than expected in April. US imports surged in the first quarter as a result of Donald Trump's tariff announcements. Imports to the US rose by 11% in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year, … Continue...
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Swiss gold exports might not face US tariffs after all
Gold exports to the United States may not be taxed after all. The White House plans to issue an executive order in the near future to clarify misinformation about the taxation of gold bullion, in particular. This announcement of a future clarification decree, transmitted on Friday by news agency AFP, follows information from US customs …
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Switzerland hit by highest US tariffs in Europe, hereditary citizenship and anti-slavery statue
How did Switzerland go from trying to negotiate a 10% tariff deal with the US to ending up with the highest tariffs in Europe? Why was an Austrian denied “hereditary citizenship”? And who stole an anti-slavery statue?
Here are three stories from Switzerland this week.
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swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international...
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