Although not on site, the American president was omnipresent. The meeting took on the appearance of trials against the EU, under pressure. Switzerland also warned it.
Not a discussion took place without being mentioned. Donald Trump, although not on site, was omnipresent during the WEF this week. The meeting took on the appearance of trials against the EU, under pressure. Switzerland also warned it.
The speech of the American president broadcast online on Thursday was the highlight of the World Economic Forum (WEF) during which managers and bosses spent their time speculating on the consequences of the American nomination.
The Republican has, for 45 minutes, unrolled his program, again threatening the rest of the world to impose heavy taxes if he does not invest in the United States. He has in particular targeted the EU, denouncing administrative heaviness. “Europe treats us too unfairly,” he said in front of a platform that has repeatedly applauded it.
The old continent was the other elephant in the room in Davos. The criticisms and warnings, including those of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, were numerous. Well aware of the issue of the week, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen posted a transformed Europe, “open to business” at the launch of the forum.
Switzerland between two lights
This power struggle between Brussels and Washington has worked up in Switzerland, between two fires. This does not want to be penalized by contradictory policies, as it has already happened in the past.
The president of the Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter and the Minister of the Economy Guy Parmelin multiplied the meetings with representatives of the EU, including Mrs. Von Der Leyen, to warn them. They are mainly concerned about the minimum taxation of multinationals wanted by the OECD, which Switzerland has applied since January 2024. The American president has threatened economic reprisals all the countries that still apply it.
-Faced with the different power strategies that have played between the major powers, Switzerland has assured its rear by treating its economic relations with many countries, including Ukraine but also Argentina. Ms. Karin Keller-Sutter met Argentinian President Javier Milei, ally of Trump, with whom she addressed the agreement between the Aele and Mercosur, who would be very profitable in Switzerland.
Mr. Parmelin has multiplied the rapprochements with the countries of Asia as well as with Great Britain. The Vaudois also has the free trade agreement online with the United States, with whom he wants to contact “as quickly as possible”.
Nearly in the background
In addition to the EU, other powers are in a delicate position in the face of the new American administration. The president of Panama, whose canal is coveted by Donald Trump, reaffirmed his total opposition to Davos to the ambitions of the Republican.
China, economically in difficulty, has also defended itself in the face of staggering taxes that the United States government wants to impose it. Vice-Prime Minister Ding XIuxiang delivered a plea against protectionism in the gray resort. A boon for Karin Keller-Sutter, who took advantage of it to give an additional pressure to Beijing on customs duties still applied to Swiss exports.
The Middle East, where a cease-fire started just before the WEF, was relegated to the background, despite the presence of several leaders in the region.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis met some, as well as his Syrian counterpart Assad Hassan Al Shibani, to find out the next steps for the government’s transition in place since the overthrow of Bashar el-Assad. However, the answers were “very vague”. Swiss sanctions against Syria will therefore be maintained, said Ticino.
