Switzerland has finally succeeded in lowering US import duties on its products. After negotiations between US President Donald Trump and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter failed, Switzerland sent a delegation of industry executives to the White House, showered with expensive gifts.

November 17, 2025, 08:36Last update: November 17, 2025, 09:03

During their visit, the top entrepreneurs brought along a special Rolex desk clock (a small one easily costs €10,000), a personalized one-kilogram gold bar (worth €112,000), and a generous helping of flattery, according to the American news site Axios.

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Trump accepted the gifts on behalf of his presidential library. Therefore, they are legal, according to White House officials.

Apple

It was technology company Apple that set the tone in August. CEO Tim Cook presented Trump with an engraved glass disc with a 24-karat gold base to celebrate the company’s new $100 billion (€86 billion) investment in the US, intended to avoid high import duties.

Trump loved Apple’s gift. Until the Swiss came along. “It was hard to top Apple, but the Swiss did it,” an administration official told Axios.

Charm offensive

The charm offensive worked. The US government announced on Friday that it was lowering import duties on Swiss products from 39 percent to 15 percent. In return, the Swiss promised to lower their own duties as well. Swiss companies also promised to invest more in the US.

Trump was pleased and later posted on Truth Social: “I want to congratulate everyone in attendance on a job well done.”

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