The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) of Switzerland has announced that it has submitted a request for consultations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the US steel and aluminum tariffs, which will have effects on Switzerland.
The EAER stated that in 2017 Switzerland exported around CHF 80 million of the steel and aluminum products concerned to the US. From Switzerland's point of view, the additional duties, which according to the US have been introduced to protect national security, are unjustified. Switzerland first intervened with the US in March and also submitted a formal request to the US Administration for a country-specific exemption from these import duties. However, the US has not responded to Switzerland’s request for an exemption from the tariffs to date. In order to protect Switzerland’s interests, Federal Councilor Johann Schneider-Ammann has taken the decision to initiate WTO dispute settlement proceedings.