Switzerland leans closer to Europe after Trump tariff blow 

Dave Graham - Reuters - 10/04
U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to hit Switzerland with steeper tariffs than most of Europe was a major shock to the export-oriented country, pushing it towards the European Union as it scrambled to contain the fallout.
  • Switzerland's ties with EU in focus after U.S. tariff shock
  • Swiss President Keller-Sutter advocates stabilizing EU relations
  • Neutral Switzerland wealthier than most of EU
ZURICH, April 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to hit Switzerland with steeper tariffs than most of Europe was a major shock to the export-oriented country, pushing it towards the European Union as it scrambled to contain the fallout.
While there was relief that Trump temporarily lowered his tariffs on Wednesday, for advocates of stronger ties the episode confirmed their argument: that a more unpredictable world means Switzerland must increase engagement with its EU neighbours.

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Switzerland took an initial step toward closer economic integration in December when it reached a political deal with Brussels to overhaul their joint trading relationship.
That EU deal faces a long approval process, but Swiss President and Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter pointed to it in a Wednesday newspaper interview as she took stock of Switzerland's options following the U.S. trade broadside.
"We want to stabilize, deepen relations with the EU," she told the Neue Zuercher Zeitung daily.
Neutral Switzerland has combined a low-tax business model with direct democracy to create a stable, open economy which is wealthier than nearly all EU member states. That has fed both national pride and resistance to being absorbed by the bloc.
After Trump imposed tariffs, Keller-Sutte...
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