Just FYI the aviation agreement goes back decades, to 1980 and Switzerland is a signatory to it. Another interesting tidbit is that the Swiss export more gold to the US than every other country in the world except Canada. In the last 12 months gold imports from Switzerland totaled over 60 billion dollars. Guess what gold loving president just exempted all that gold from the 39% tariffs. So a 39% tariff on a 3 million dollar aircraft, made with many US components, and zero tariffs on 60 billion dollars worth of gold bars. Should we call him President Trump or King Midas?
Your general animosity against Trump aside, he did not grant an exemption on gold sales, but corrected an error: “The U.S. Customs and Border Protection afterwards said Washington might put tariffs on the most widely-traded gold bullion bars in the United States. However, Trump said on Monday that gold would not face tariffs.” More important is the back story that no one is mentioning, that the Swiss president bungled negotiations from the outset: “a phone call between Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter and U.S. president Donald Trump, on the eve of the Aug. 1 tariff deadline, did not go well, according to sources familiar with the matter and reports from news outlets including the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal. “The woman was nice, but she didn’t want to listen,” Trump said of the call” Hodinkee.com Tariffs are imposed on Swiss exports to many other countries, so why all of a sudden the hissy fit against us.? US tariffs have been very low by comparison for far too long. BTW - I admire greatly Pilatus Aircraft, have toured their beautiful facility in Stans, and speak their language. They should though look closer at other excellent Swiss companies who have established production facilities in the U.S. Their president is in fact from the town of Uzwil, home to Buehler, which has two large facilities in the US. I started a Swiss-style apprenticeship program with the North Carolina office in 2013, NCTAP.org, and enjoyed great support from the Swiss. North Carolina in fact was founded in part by Swiss nobility, the reason our first state capital was New Bern near the coast.
Let me know when you buy a Rolex made in Alabama.
Now that is funny - thanks for the humor! I never really understood why anyone would wear a watch worth more than my first airplane, but why not, if it turns you on. Make mine a cheap aviation watch knockoff from Walmart. I destroy them anyway while in my workshop making aircraft composites. But, if I did want to waste a ton of money on a watch, it would be a rare Iren Dornier timepiece, since I started my aircraft engineering career at Dornier in the early 80s. Raleigh is only an hour away from us, and is now home to a Swiss watchmaker: “Audemars Piguet, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, is establishing a new North American service center in Raleigh, North Carolina, according to multiple sources. This move involves a $22 million investment and the creation of 105 jobs.” Hello Pilatus - see how this is done?
This is part of a press release from Pilatus. “The initial development will include 54,000 square feet dedicated to maintenance activity, spare parts distribution and new aircraft deliveries, plus an additional 17,000 square feet of workshops, office and administrative space. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-2026. Future growth plans for Pilatus’ Bradenton location include final assembly for aircraft delivering to North and South America and may ultimately employ up to 300 people.” No matter what kind of watch you are wearing I think it’s “time” to give them a break. (Did you like how I did that last part?)
That sounds terrific. Bradenton is probably a good location, too. The Swiss president should have had a list of such projects from Swiss companies to read during her first phone call with Trump. Having lived in Europe for many years, very near the Swiss border, and as a frequent visitor, I am dismayed at the one-sided news they get, which is essentially a translation of NYT/CNN/MSNBC/etc. My Swiss friends are always a bit incredulous when I show them the facts, as they never hear the other side of a story. They were absolutely convinced Kamala would win last November, even on the morning after the election. Way back in 1980 I visited the company SABCA in Gosselies, Belgium where the Belgian Air Force F-16s were being assembled. I suspect this was a requirement from the Belgians for a purchase of the aircraft. I think the Dutch might have done the same, not sure. So these offsets have been going along for a very long time. For instance, when the Polish government bought DC-9s many moons ago, all the Douglas employs got a goose for Christmas, from Poland. True story.
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