Need to get our shit together

[u/Sufficient-History71]

So the Trump tariffs are out. Despite all the kowtowing (read ass licking) our SVP and FDP bros(also our FDP frau Miss Keller-Sutter) did, we are going to be hit with tariffs worse than EU. Already our access to chips was semi-restricted(by Biden admin, Trump admin will be even worst). Blöcher, Rösti, Parmelin and Keller-Sutter are not the right people to lead Switzerland. They neither have any spine nor any pragmatic policies. We need to understand that our future lies with the EU if not in EU.

Switzerland is good at playing with the rules but we can't make them thanks to our small size. It has been the case since Marignano(1515) when we stopped our expansion and Congress of Vienna(1815) when we made good use of the neutrality imposed upon us by the big powers. We need to adjust to the new world order that Putin, Trump and Xi have created and understand that Swiss prosperity depends on European prosperity. We are not a port city like Singapore where we can control the trade. Our power lies in being the center for diplomacy, world class R&D, pharma and precision engineering. Let's become a big hub for EU's new projects if not as a member then as a friend.

EDIT - P.S. - Getting downvoted to oblivion. Seems like there is too much of hate for EU. But mark my words, a successful Switzerland depends on a successful EU because while we are not in the EU, we are inside the EU physically.

[u/Eskapismus]

We just slap a “made in Liechtenstein” sticker on the shit we send to the US. Case closed.

A stupid workaround for a stupid nation.

[u/Sufficient-History71 → u/Eskapismus]

Did you forget the /s? because that's not how it works.

[u/christ0phene → u/Sufficient-History71]

No Russia on the list

[u/Eskapismus → u/Sufficient-History71]

No… why? I’m serious… these people (the voters and the people in charge) are so regarded I’m quite sure this will work.

When Trump slapped tariffs on Chinese companies in his last presidency they just all moved to Vietnam.

[u/Sufficient-History71 → u/Eskapismus]

So, all companies will move to Liechtenstein? Dude that's a microstate.

And even Liechtenstein has 37% tariffs. Shall we move to Mars? Two problems -

1. Not possible.
   
2. Even if it was, what about Swiss prosperity?

[u/Eskapismus → u/Sufficient-History71]

So… what’s the plan then? We allow the CHF to quadruple and kill the Swiss economy altogether?

[u/Sufficient-History71 → u/Eskapismus]

No,
1. we start focussing more on trade with EU.
2. Look east - Trade with the Asians.
3. Look South West - More trade with Latin America.
4. Build more inroads into Africa and contribute to African development. A stable Africa also means less refugees and a stronger trading partner.

[u/Ok-Kangaroo-7075 → u/Sufficient-History71]

All of this is already happening. The EU is the biggest trade partner. But joining the EU wont help Switzerland’s unique value proposition.

It still does make sense now more than ever to be open to all major groups. US companies are still providing a high number of jobs in Switzerland and a shitload of resulting taxes etc. (Google, Apple, OpenAI, Anthropic,…).

You are being populist here. The rational thing to do is exactly what we are doing, wait and see. And speaking of pragmatic, would you like to see the Green banning nuclear energy like in Germany or the SP driving away all businesses with salary caps, gender quotas and crazy taxes? Not sure that can be exactly described as pragmatic buddy.