Switzerland Rejects Forced Labor Claims Amid New U.S. Tariff Hike

The Swiss economy department took to social media to contest the justification for these duties, labeling the forced labor accusations as unfounded. Despite the sudden shift in trade policy, the Federal Council noted that both nations remain nominally committed to the terms of a joint 2025 trade statement. This friction marks a rare public escalation between the two countries, as Bern attempts to decouple its national trade reputation from the specific labor concerns cited by U.S. regulators. The government maintains that its domestic industries operate within international standards, viewing the tariff hike as a disproportionate response to the ongoing dispute.