Public-sector workers in Geneva have issued a strike notice for April 23rd in protest against expected cuts in the cantonal budget, reported RTS. On Thursday evening the general assembly of the Cartel Intersyndical, an umbrella group of unions, also approved plans for a demonstration a week earlier. The cantonal government is due to present a […]
Government plan to bolster Swiss wine draws criticism from industry
Swiss wine faces falling consumption and stiff competition from abroad. The federal government now wants to intervene. But its proposed rules have met resistance from parts of the industry, reported SRF. At present, wine imports operate on a first come, first served basis. Each year a fixed quantity of wine can be imported under preferential […]
Swiss lawmakers step up trade diplomacy in Washington
A delegation from Switzerland’s federal parliament travelled to Washington this week for talks with members of Congress and American economic officials, with the prospect of a bilateral trade agreement high on the agenda, reported RTS. The visit had been planned for some time but has acquired greater urgency amid renewed turbulence in American trade policy. […]
EU member states back new accords with Switzerland
Member states of the European Union have approved the signing of a package of agreements with Bern, giving their political blessing on Tuesday. The next step, according to the Council, is expected in March. The decision marks a logical step in strengthening our long-standing relations, said Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’s deputy minister for European affairs, in […]
Swiss finance minister defends austerity despite surprise surplus in 2025
Switzerland’s federal government closed 2025 with a financing surplus of CHF 0.3bn, rather than the CHF 0.8bn deficit forecast in the budget. The improvement of more than CHF 1bn was largely due to temporary additional tax revenue from the canton of Geneva. Ministers caution that the windfall should not be mistaken for a change in […]
Swiss politicians challenge WHO’s stance on alcohol
A group of Swiss politicians and hospitality industry representatives is pushing back against the World Health Organization, which in 2023 argued that no level of alcohol consumption can be considered risk-free, reported SRF. The agency maintains that even small amounts of wine, beer or spirits increase health risks. Critics in Switzerland say that position overstates […]
Donald Trump again singles out Switzerland in defence of tariffs
Donald Trump has once more invoked Switzerland’s trade surplus to justify his trade policy, arguing that the prosperity of such countries depends on American generosity. In an interview broadcast on Fox Business on Tuesday evening, the president said the United States had “let them exploit us”, referring to Switzerland’s goods trade surplus with the US. […]
Continued rise in number of fare evaders caught on Swiss public transport
The number of fare evaders caught on Switzerland’s public-transport network is increasing steadily. In 2024, 1.17m passengers were found travelling without a valid ticket, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Alliance SwissPass. That is well above the one-million mark crossed for the first time the previous year. The data, reported by various media […]
Swiss unemployment rises in January
Switzerland’s labour market weakened further at the start of 2026. The unemployment rate rose to 3.2% in January, up 0.1 percentage points from December, marking a second consecutive monthly increase after stagnating in November, according to data released by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The number of people registered with regional employment offices […]
Swiss exports reach a record high in 2025
Swiss exports hit a new high in 2025, buoyed by strong demand for chemicals and pharmaceuticals, despite a tariff dispute with the United States under Donald Trump. Exports rose by 1.4% to CHF 287bn, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security. Shipments to the United States increased by 3.9% to CHF 54.7bn, […]
