“We think that growth will slow down, but we do not foresee a recession in Switzerland,” Schlegel told the Swiss Media Forum in Lucerne on Friday.
He pointed out that the increase in customs duties could penalise Swiss products because they become more expensive in the US, but also because other countries could benefit from more advantageous conditions than Swiss exporters.
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SNB chairman does not rule out slowdown in Swiss growth
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Martin Schlegel, chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), does not rule out a weakening of the Swiss economy in light of the tariff dispute.
Asked about the possible introduction of negative interest rates in Switzerland, Schlegel said no instrument could be ruled out.
Nobody likes negative interest rates, including the SNB, but it is not out of the question that the institution might have to use them again, he commented. This would complicate the work of pension funds in particular, which would find it more difficult to achieve their targets, he said.
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Swiss franc surge sparks bets on negative interest rates
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Markets bet on Swiss central bank taming currency with lower interest rates.
Schlegel once again dismissed US accusations of currency manipulation against Switzerland. The SNB does not intervene to gain an unfair competitive advantage for the Swiss economy, but only to fulfil its mandate of ensuring price stability, he said.
This means intervening to limit the strengthening of the franc, insisted Schlegel, who was appointed to the post just over seven months ago.
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UBS expects slow Swiss growth due to Trump
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The Swiss economy will stagnate this year and next, according to economists at UBS, who blame US President Donald Trump.
SNB officials have always maintained good dialogue with their US technical counterparts on this issue, and the Swiss position has been understood, said Schlegel. But he said that he did not know whether this view was shared by the new US president, Donald Trump.
Translated from German by DeepL/sb
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