US trade probes pressure Swiss economy and trade strategy

The United States has launched or revived Section 301 trade probes targeting multiple partners, with Switzerland among 16 countries under scrutiny, echoing Trump-era tariff battles. Bern is analyzing the legal and economic implications, and officials warn Switzerland may have to accept certain US tariffs as a permanent feature while still pursuing a binding bilateral trade accord. These tensions come as Swiss inflation remains barely above zero, heightening concern that sustained US trade barriers could weigh on exports, growth, and monetary policy room for maneuver.