The conversation between the President of Switzerland, the head of the Federal Department of Finance, Karin Keller-Zutter, and the head of the US administration, Donald Trump, was "catastrophic" — the US leader accused the European country of "stealing money." This was reported by the Financial Times newspaper.
Switzerland was ready to agree to a 10% US duty in exchange for the intention to invest $150 billion in the US. Keller-Zutter herself claimed in July that she had found "access to [US President Donald] Trump." However, the true scale of the problems became clear on July 31, the newspaper notes. According to several sources familiar with the situation, late on the evening of July 31, Keller-Zutter had a "catastrophic" telephone conversation with Donald Trump.
The American leader spoke only about one thing — about the trade deficit in trade with the Confederation in the amount of $ 39 billion a year.
"The conversation was not good, from the very first minute Trump clearly stated that 10% is not enough. All he focused on was the fact that Switzerland was stealing money from the United States. Keller-Zutter had nothing to answer," said one of the interlocutors of the newspaper.
In Switzerland, the search for the culprits began after the United States announced on August 1 that export duties of 39% would be imposed on the country.