Donald Trump doesn’t want to negotiate tariffs with Swiss president any longer, after she reportedly ‘humiliated’ him; rents will continue to climb in 2026; and more news in our roundup on Monday.
Donald Trump no longer wants to negotiate with Swiss president
According to confidential US information leaked from the While House and reported by Swiss media on Sunday, Trump doesn’t want to renegotiate the trade tariffs with Karin Keller-Sutter because she “irritated” and “humiliated” him during their 34-minute conversation on July 31st, a day before the 39-percent tariffs were slapped on Switzerland.
Trump’s anger was reportedly sparked (according to his perception) when Keller-Sutter corrected his claim of a $40-billion Swiss trade deficit with the United States, and “she also allegedly belittled him by giving him a lecture on macroeconomics and economic policy.”
In fact, Keller-Sutter tried to explain that there is no trade deficit, given the widely different sizes of Swiss vs US market.
Nevertheless, after the conversation, Trump informed his staff that he is off-limits to Keller-Sutter in the future.
Some in Switzerland’s diplomatic circles believe, however, that this is one of Trump’s tactics – presumably so that Swiss negotiators beg the US president to reconsider.
READ ALSO: Swiss face tough task to strike deal with Trump
Rents are expected to increase by 3 to 5 percent per year
The already tight housing market in Switzerland is expected to worsen further for those looking for a new apartment – concretely, rents are expected to continue the upward trend, by 3 to 5 percent annually, in the coming years.
This is according to an interview that Martin Tschirren, director of the Federal Housing Office, gave Swiss media on Sunday.
“The demand for housing continues to exceed supply,” he pointed out, explaining that anyone who wants to, or has to, move, will likely see their rent go up in a new dwelling
“In a way, they are paying the price for the housing shortage,” Tschirren said.
He added that this situation isn’t just affecting large cities, but is increasingly impacting smaller towns as well.
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Petition calls for a women-only swimming area on the Rhine river
To combat harassment, nearly 550 people have signed a petition calling for the creation of a separate area on the banks of the Rhine in Basel, which would be off-limits to men.
Only women and gender-neutral individuals should be able to swim there, petitioners argue, because “many people feel uncomfortable or unsafe in mixed bathing areas.”
Petitioners want to collect 50 more signatures – to reach 600 – before presenting it to the cantonal authorities.
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Fewer Swiss are travelling to the United States
Inexpensive flights are up for grabs from Zurich to major US cities.
For instance, from late September to mid-October, round-trip flights from Zurich to New York cost 398 francs, to Washington DC, 395 francs, and to Boston, 393.
Farther away, a flight to Los Angeles is 465 francs and to San Francisco, 401.
And yet, SWISS airline can’t fill up its airplanes.
Though the company has not given an official explanation for this sharp drop in demand, media attributes it to the “Trump effect” – that is, signs of protest against the US president and his treatment of Switzerland.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
