US planning 'privileged' trade negotiations with 15 countries, Swiss leader says

Swiss Confederation President Karin Keller-Sutter on Thursday said the U.S. is planning what she called “privileged” trade negotiations with 15 countries, as President Trump's tariff agenda threatens to rattle the global marketplace.

Keller-Sutter, during her visit to Washington on Thursday, told reporters that Switzerland is one of those countries that the Trump administration is looking to make a fresh trade deal with. It is unclear which other nations are included, according to The Associated Press. 

The Swiss leader said in an interview with broadcaster SRF, which was released on Friday, that the U.S. “envisages conducting — I would say somewhat privileged — negotiations and finding solutions.” 

She added that she was “satisfied” with the discussion she had in Washington, which included a one-on-one meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and attending the International Monetary Fund's spring meetings..

Keller-Sutter noted that both the U.S. and Switzerland agreed to draft a "Letter of Intent” which outlines the most important topics they want to hash out, and that “we have also been assigned a specific contact person.” 

“We discussed key economic issues and opportunities for enhanced collaboration between our two countries,” she added, referring to her meeting Thursday with Bessent.

As part of his latest tariff announcement, which targeted nearly all foreign trading partners, Trump slapped a 31 percent import tax on Swiss goods coming into the U.S. Days later, the president halted most of the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days to leave wiggle room for negotiations, leaving in place a 10 percent baseline tariff on most imports.

“The U.S. authorities have clearly expressed their desire to find a solution with Switzerland,” Keller-Sutter told SRF, adding that both governments are swiftly moving ahead since “uncertainty is poison for the economy.”

She emphasized during the interview that the two sides have to find a solution, as the changing economic landscape is affecting Swiss industries and families.