President Donald Trump, in an interview on Tuesday, said that he decided to increase tariffs on Switzerland following a phone conversation with the country’s former leader.
Trump said on Tuesday that he has raised tariffs on Switzerland after a phone call with the nation’s former president, according to a report by The Hill.
Leader Mentions Switzerland’s Size
Trump revealed to Fox Business’s Larry Kudlow that he believed he was speaking with the Swiss prime minister, describing her as “nice, but very aggressive.”
During the conversation, she repeatedly mentioned Switzerland’s small size, saying “we are a small country, which Trump found annoying. “Again and again and again. I couldn’t get her off the phone,” Trump said.
As a result, he opted to increase the tariffs from 30% to 39% instead of reducing them. The report indicated that Trump was likely referring to former Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, who left office at the end of December.
Tariffs And Trade Deal
The tariff hike followed a series of trade developments between the U.S. and Switzerland. In August 2025, the U.S. imposed tariffs on Swiss gold imports.
In November 2025, Trump announced a $200 billion trade deal with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, aiming to eliminate a $38.5 billion goods trade deficit by 2028.
Democrats Criticize Trump’s Remarks
Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized Trump’s remarks, arguing that his tariff policies were not founded on national security concerns.
They urged bipartisan efforts to end what they described as reckless behavior.
On Tuesday, three House Republicans joined Democrats in opposing a ban on snap votes to repeal presidential tariffs, allowing Democrats to advance a resolution to revoke Trump’s emergency tariff declaration on Canada.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock/ Evan El-Amin
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