https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Swiss government is considering dropping the agreed purchase of the Patriot air-defence system from the United States amid severe delivery delays, Defence Minister Martin Pfister said Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260401/swiss-government-could-drop-purchase-of-us-patriot-air-defence-system Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:41:35 +0200 swiss-government-could-drop-purchase-of-us-patriot-air-defence-system The new lower-tariff agreement between Bern and Washington stipulates that Coop, Migros, and other Swiss supermarkets should sell much more US meat. But will they? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251119/will-migros-and-coop-be-forced-to-sell-american-meat-under-new-trade-deal Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:25:24 +0100 will-migros-and-coop-be-forced-to-sell-american-meat-under-new-trade-deal Representatives from Switzerland and the US announced the framework for a new trade agreement between the two countries, but what's in it and is it a win for Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251118/what-to-know-about-switzerlands-new-trade-deal-with-the-us Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:29:21 +0100 what-to-know-about-switzerlands-new-trade-deal-with-the-us The first casualty of a hefty 39-percent tariff on Swiss imports into the United States may be gold refining, after it emerged that certain gold bars could face the levy. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250809/swiss-gold-refining-sector-stung-by-us-tariffs Sat, 09 Aug 2025 10:21:04 +0200 swiss-gold-refining-sector-stung-by-us-tariffs Switzerland and the United States are quibbling over the final price of 36 new Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets bought to replace the ageing Swiss fleet, Bern said Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250626/switzerland-and-the-us-in-spat-over-cost-of-f-35-fighter-jets Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:18:51 +0200 switzerland-and-the-us-in-spat-over-cost-of-f-35-fighter-jets The Local recently published an article on the US government’s travel advisory about dangers that Americans could encounter in Switzerland. Do the readers agree with this assessment? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250526/is-switzerland-really-dangerous-for-americans-readers-have-their-say Mon, 26 May 2025 12:51:04 +0200 is-switzerland-really-dangerous-for-americans-readers-have-their-say Switzerland and the United States agreed to speed up talks on striking a deal on Washington's tariffs, the Swiss president said following a meeting with top US officials on Friday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250509/swiss-seize-window-of-opportunity-on-trump-tariffs Fri, 09 May 2025 17:18:39 +0200 swiss-seize-window-of-opportunity-on-trump-tariffs The new package of bilateral agreements concluded in December 2024 notwithstanding, Switzerland’s population increasingly seeks the security of its European neighbours. Why is that? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250414/why-do-swiss-want-to-get-closer-to-the-european-union-right-now Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:27:28 +0200 why-do-swiss-want-to-get-closer-to-the-european-union-right-now After global markets went into a tailspin over Donald Trump’s punitive customs duties, he abruptly changed his mind. Did Switzerland play a role in this turnabout? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250410/did-swiss-president-persuade-trump-to-back-down-on-tariffs Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:50:37 +0200 did-swiss-president-persuade-trump-to-back-down-on-tariffs While announcing a sweeping range of reciprocal tariffs on goods from abroad, US president Donald Trump said customs duties of 31 percent would be imposed on imports from Switzerland. This is what we know so far. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250403/qa-what-impact-will-trumps-hefty-tariffs-have-on-switzerland Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:36:21 +0200 qa-what-impact-will-trumps-hefty-tariffs-have-on-switzerland Donald Trump’s announcement that 31-percent tariffs would be levied on imports from Switzerland sent shockwaves through the country’s economic circles. But what impact could this measure have on people directly? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250404/how-much-will-us-trade-tariffs-on-switzerland-cost-each-household Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:06:26 +0200 how-much-will-us-trade-tariffs-on-switzerland-cost-each-household Switzerland, which was hit hard by US President Donald Trump's global tariff onslaught, is not planning to retaliate "at the present time", the government said Thursday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250403/switzerland-not-planning-to-counter-trumps-tariffs-for-now Thu, 03 Apr 2025 20:03:57 +0200 switzerland-not-planning-to-counter-trumps-tariffs-for-now If you are a US citizen living in Switzerland (or anywhere else outside the United States), you probably know about FATCA. The Swiss Federal Council wants to amend its rules. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250310/swiss-government-wants-to-change-us-fatca-rules Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:13:19 +0100 swiss-government-wants-to-change-us-fatca-rules From February 4th, the United States will impose higher customs duties on Canada, Mexico, and China. But what impact will this move have on Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250203/why-switzerland-could-be-directly-affected-by-trumps-higher-tariffs Mon, 03 Feb 2025 16:51:29 +0100 why-switzerland-could-be-directly-affected-by-trumps-higher-tariffs Now that Donald Trump is ensconced in the White House for (at least) the next four years, it is time to take stock of what impact his second term in office could have on Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250121/great-uncertainty-what-trumps-return-means-for-switzerland Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:29:06 +0100 great-uncertainty-what-trumps-return-means-for-switzerland Usually, people with poor knowledge of geography confuse Switzerland with Sweden. But the US president-elect appears to believe the Alps are in Canada. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241204/does-donald-trump-know-the-difference-between-switzerland-and-canada Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:59:27 +0100 does-donald-trump-know-the-difference-between-switzerland-and-canada