ZURICH (Reuters) -Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said on Friday he had a “very constructive” conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, as the country seeks to reduce tariffs of 39% imposed on its exports to the U.S. by President Donald Trump.
“Great dynamic in our bilateral relations,” Parmelin wrote on X, following the conversation on Friday afternoon, with trade and investment among the topics covered.
The Economic Affairs Department declined to give further details.
The Swiss government is turning on the charm to win some respite from the tariffs, which threaten Swiss access to one of its biggest export markets.
Also on Friday Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said she had spoken with new U.S. Ambassador Callista Gingrich.
Swiss companies have also been working to persuade Trump to reduce the tariffs, with a delegation of business leaders meeting Trump in the White House on Tuesday.
That initiative has been welcomed by the Swiss government, which said diplomatic and political exchanges were ongoing with the goal of reducing the U.S. import duties.
(Reporting by John Revill, Editing by Louise Heavens, Alexandra Hudson)
Comments