Swiss complaint over US tariffs to be reviewed by WTO panel
A general view of the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva
Keystone
A Swiss complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) against United States import tariffs on aluminium and steel will be decided by a WTO panel.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-ATS/swissinfo.ch/sb
On Tuesday, the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) accepted to create separate panels to hear the complaints by Switzerland and India, after the two countries filed a second request for their cases to be heard.
In July, Switzerland initiated a WTO dispute settlement procedureExternal link against US President Donald Trump’s decision to hit various countries with import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium. Switzerland exported steel products worth about CHF80 million ($80.5 million) last year.
The DSB already agreed last month to establish panels to hear disputes brought by the European Union, China, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Russia and Turkey.
According to the Keystone-SDA news agency, the Swiss ambassador to the WTO Didier Chambovey is convinced that Trump’s decision on tariffs does “not conform” with US obligations.
Trump has defended the tariffs with claims that huge flows of imports to the US threaten national security. Washington invoked a rarely used WTO exception that allows a country to take “any action which it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests”.
The move to create the WTO panels follows failed consultations between the parties and marks an escalation in the ongoing dispute at the WTO over Trump’s trade policies.
Several weeks ago, Chambovey denounced unilateral safeguard measures by the US and said Washington’s attitude could have “a damaging effect on the entire multilateral trading system”.
In 2002, Switzerland, together with other WTO member states, successfully brought a steel industry case against the US. The trade measures were subsequently lifted from the products as a result.
More
More
Switzerland files WTO complaint over American steel tariffs
This content was published on
Switzerland has initiated a dispute settlement procedure with the WTO against US steel and aluminium import tariffs.
Switzerland could produce up to 5Mt of emissions annually by 2050
This content was published on
Two to five megatonnes of CO2 equivalents per year: this is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that Switzerland is still expected to produce annually in 2050, a new study shows.
US tariffs putting 100,000 jobs at risk in Switzerland
This content was published on
US tariffs of 39% on Swiss imports will directly affect 100,000 jobs, mainly in the watchmaking, machinery, metals, and food industries, economiesuisse warns.
This content was published on
Switzerland has released CHF4 million (nearly $5 million) to help Sudan, which has been severely affected by famine and cholera.
Switzerland rejects new Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory
This content was published on
Switzerland says it rejects the announced construction of thousands of housing units in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank.
Larry Finck and André Hoffmann named interim co-chairs of WEF board
This content was published on
The WEF also revealed an investigation commissioned by the board has cleared its founder Klaus Schwab and his wife of accusations made by anonymous whistleblowers.
Vice-president of German parliament in favour of Switzerland joining EU
This content was published on
The vice-president of the Bundestag says his country should support closer ties between Switzerland and the European Union given the customs conflict with the United States.
Lindt & Sprüngli reportedly considering shifting Easter bunny production to US
This content was published on
Swiss chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli could relocate the production of its gold-wrapped Easter bunnies to the US in order to circumvent the import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
Swiss petition launched against curbing 30km/h speed limit
This content was published on
The Traffic Club of Switzerland (TCS) has submitted a petition to the Federal Chancellery, challenging the 30km/h speed limit on local roads.
Trump is making a ‘short-term political gamble’ on tariffs
This content was published on
Tensions are running high after United States President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on the steel and aluminium imports of close allies.
This content was published on
On Monday, the WTO accepted requests by Switzerland, Norway and China to appoint a panel of experts to determine whether the US’s action, which came into effect in March, contravened WTO trade agreements. “It’s the first time that Switzerland is requesting the establishment of a WTO panel to make a decision on the consistency of…
This content was published on
Global trade is under threat. Whether or not you call the current situation a trade war, certainly the first shots have been fired.
This content was published on
Lamy, Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann and Geneva cantonal president Charles Beer cut the ribbon to celebrate the renovation and expansion of the historic Centre William Rappard headquarters, originally built in 1926 to house the International Labour Organization. The SFr130 million ($137 million) project adds 20,000 square metres to the lakeside complex and includes a…
Swiss economics minister doesn’t fear exodus of companies
This content was published on
Speaking in Davos ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump, Schneider-Ammann said that if he were head of an American company he would think twice before such a relocation, since there is no guarantee the tax breaks will still be in place a few years from now. Echoing similar statements to the Swiss…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.