Swiss Face 72-Hour Race to Lower Trump’s ‘Absurd’ 39% Tariff

The Swiss government held crisis talks on Monday to come up with a proposal that might dissuade US President Donald Trump from imposing 39% tariffs on the country in less than three days.

With the rate — the highest among industrial nations — set to go into effect on Aug. 7, President and Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter convened an emergency meeting of the governing Federal Council on Monday to discuss how to proceed. While officials worked behind the scenes in the Federal Palace to find a solution, the matter dominated lunchtime conversation at Bern’s city parks.

Separately, negotiators with the ...