Increase their prices in the United States, a difficult exercise for Swiss companies

Posted on May 05, 2025 at 19:09. / Modified on May 06, 2025 to 12:20.

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The new American customs tariffs represent a major uncertainty for Swiss companies. Some also prefer not to talk about it. They are waiting to see what will emerge from the negotiations between the White House and its business partners within two months. Obviously all companies are not housed in the same brand. And the large multinationals producing locally for the different regions they serve are best. The ABB engineering group, producing 75-80% of its products for the American market across the Atlantic, is convinced that it can raise the prices of the items that are imported for this market. So the 20-25% of the products made elsewhere, says a spokesperson.

For more modest companies, things are more complicated. Especially for those who partly produce in China. This is the case of the Zurich manufacturer of Kuhn Rikon kitchen utensils. The goods produced in the Middle Empire and exported to the United States are currently exposed at customs tariffs of 145%. As a number of companies, however, she has completed her American stocks in the last months and the consequences of this protectionist measure will only intervene in a few months. For articles still requiring to be imported in the short term, a price adjustment could take place from this month of May.