Merz Offers to Help Swiss Reduce ‘Exorbitant’ Trump Trade Tariff

Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered Germany’s support for Switzerland in its bid to reduce the punishingly high trade levy US President Donald Trump imposed on the export-dependent nation last month.

The 39% tariff Trump slapped on Switzerland is the highest for any developed country and officials in Bern are trying to persuade his administration to accept a new offer by October.

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter — who made a failed trip to Washington to try to talk Trump around — met with Merz on Tuesday in Berlin and the German leader told reporters he hoped her government managed to cut ...