Jacques Pitteloud, the Swiss ambassador to the United States, does not foresee an improvement in bilateral relations following the change of power in Washington. The Biden administration will “probably not have much time for Switzerland”, he says.
The new US administration simply has too many problems to solve, he said in an interviewExternal link with newspaper Blick, publishedon Wednesday.
Pitteloud, who will attend the inauguration of Joe Biden on Wednesday, also expressed scepticism about a free-trade agreement between Switzerland and the United States.
“The new administration around Joe Biden will certainly have to deal with other problems first,” he said. “Had Donald Trump been given a second term as US president, Switzerland might have had a slightly better chance for a free-trade agreement,” he reckoned, echoing comments made at the weekend by Edward McMullen, the outgoing US ambassador to Switzerland.
“But we will continue to work towards a free-trade agreement.”
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US ambassador McMullen says farewell
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Edward McMullen, the United States ambassador to Switzerland, has said farewell to the country, SonntagsBlick has reported.
Pitteloud also expects little change regarding Switzerland’s representation of US interests in Iran.
“Swiss diplomats in Washington and Tehran ensure at all times that messages are passed between the two governments as quickly as possible,” he explained.
There have been ups and downs between the two states for 40 years, he said. But both the US and Iran are facing power changes this year – “it’s a delicate time”.
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What are Switzerland’s good offices good for?
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As tensions and oil prices rise in the Middle East, the Swiss foreign ministry is offering its good offices. But what are they?
Holcim selling business in Nigeria to Chinese cement group
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The Swiss cement manufacturer Holcim wants to sell its shares in the Nigeria-based Lafarge Africa PLC Group to the Chinese cement manufacturer Huaxin Cement. The sale price is one billion dollars on a 100 percent basis.
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The Swiss Scout Movement has been recognised for its achievements in promoting tolerance, respect and living together in peace.
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Compulsory tipping does not meet with unanimous approval among the Swiss. More than two-thirds do not want to include tipping in the price of their food.
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Electric cars are still a rarity in Switzerland. Currently, 4.1 percent of registered cars run exclusively on electricity. There are some major differences between the cantons, as the Energy Reporter from Energie Schweiz and Geoimpact shows.
Black Friday gets off to a slow start in Swiss shops
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Black Friday has established itself as one of the biggest shopping events in Switzerland in recent years. On Friday, however, business was rather slow, especially in the stores.
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.
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How a norm-breaking American presidency affected Switzerland
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As Donald Trump leaves the White House, SWI swissinfo.ch assesses the impact of four tumultuous years on relations with Switzerland.
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Switzerland’s incoming ambassador to the United States Jacques Pitteloud talks about his priorities and how he sees his post.
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.