US Tariffs on Switzerland

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See, China is paying the tariffs! Trump is a stable genius.
There is only one stable genius.

gatorcpa
 
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How are they going to find the watch? How do they know you didn't bring it with you from home? As I said, it is rarely enforced.
Well, if the watch was purchased with a credit card, the credit card transaction would be a big clue. I'm not saying that CBP has real-time access to credit card data currently, but they and/or ICE are reportedly requiring access to social media accounts, so it's not a huge stretch. I do agree that it has heretofore been rarely enforced. Considering the penalty (forfeiture of the watch plus a fine), careful consideration of one's risk tolerance might be in order.
 
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Bothsides amirite!
All politicians are arseholes regardless of affiliation.........it's just that some are shittier arseholes than others!
 
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Well, if the watch was purchased with a credit card, the credit card transaction would be a big clue. I'm not saying that CBP has real-time access to credit card data currently, but they and/or ICE are reportedly requiring access to social media accounts, so it's not a huge stretch. I do agree that it has heretofore been rarely enforced. Considering the penalty (forfeiture of the watch plus a fine), careful consideration of one's risk tolerance might be in order.
The government does not get credit card info from Americans entering the country. They would have to pass a big brother law first. Simply entering is not reason to ask the bank for your transactions.

I think you're confusing what the government can do for visitors, and what it can do for citizens.
 
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All politicians are arseholes regardless of affiliation.........it's just that some are shittier arseholes than others!

Don't believe this. It's a deceit to fool you into believing your vote doesn't matter because they're all the same, so don't bother. Clearly they aren't all the same.
 
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"Switzerland’s famed watch industry, dominated by luxury players like Rolex, Breitling and Patek Philippe, as well as conglomerates like the Swatch Group and Richemont, makes up about 4 percent of Swiss goods send to the United States. Swiss watch exports to the United States were worth more than $5 billion last year, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/...e_code=1.c08.RHLY.bBkQftx8AYH_&smid=url-share

Someone's a Breitling fan. Rolex, Breitling and Patek?
 
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"Switzerland’s famed watch industry, dominated by luxury players like Rolex, Breitling and Patek Philippe, as well as conglomerates like the Swatch Group and Richemont, makes up about 4 percent of Swiss goods send to the United States. Swiss watch exports to the United States were worth more than $5 billion last year, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/...e_code=1.c08.RHLY.bBkQftx8AYH_&smid=url-share

Someone's a Breitling fan. Rolex, Breitling and Patek?
Breitling is such a big luxury player. And if you add in the sales of their recent brand acquisitions - Gallet and Universal Geneve - they are absolutely huge.

 
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Don't believe this. It's a deceit to fool you into believing your vote doesn't matter because they're all the same, so don't bother. Clearly they aren't all the same.
No they aren't all the same, as I said some are shittier arseholes than the others........the trick is to vote for the least shitty arsehole!!
 
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How are they going to find the watch? How do they know you didn't bring it with you from home?

I suspect the way the owner would be ‘so very carefully’ putting their new watch in the little grey tray - and the f*ck- off great big box in your hold luggage might be the give away.

I don’t think anyone one is doubting that you could wear a new watch home - and get away with it.

Whether you should do that to avoid legally/obligated taxes is entirely another matter.
 
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I suspect the way the owner would be ‘so very carefully’ putting their new watch in the little grey tray - and the f*ck- off great big box in your hold luggage might be the give away.

I don’t think anyone one is doubting that you could wear a new watch home - and get away with it.

Whether you should do that to avoid legally/obligated taxes is entirely another matter.
Absolutely agree! It is rarely enforced, and what you decide is the right thing to do is another matter.
 
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Wonder if this will result in companies like Bulova or Hamilton "re-homing" their production facilities back to the US? Call me skeptical....Even so, the US may have to relax their requirements for watchmakers to be able to stamp Made In The USA on their dials. It's my understanding that the requirements are more stringent than those certificates of origins are in Switzerland. Can you just imagine, watch part factories opening up all across America? Unless you're Benjamin Button, me thinks you'll have a tough time imagining that 😉
 
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Wonder if this will result in companies like Bulova or Hamilton "re-homing" their production facilities back to the US? Call me skeptical..
The Swiss tariffs are more about pharmaceutical production. Watches are just part of the bargaining.
 
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The Swiss tariffs are more about pharmaceutical production. Watches are just part of the bargaining.

Could you please elaborate? Presently, Swiss pharmaceuticals are not tariffed.
 
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The Swiss tariffs are more about pharmaceutical production. Watches are just part of the bargaining.
That makes sense and as watch nerds, we tend to get a tad myopic at times. Collateral damage I suppose....
 
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Could you please elaborate? Presently, Swiss pharmaceuticals are not tariffed.

Nytimes reported:

"Excluding gold, Switzerland’s mammoth pharmaceutical industry accounts for half the value of Swiss products shipped to America. In 2024, Swiss drug companies, which include the pharma giants Roche and Novartis, exported around $35 billion worth of medicines, cancer treatments, vaccines and other drugs, according to the U.N. Comtrade database.

"Mr. Trump is threatening to set a high tariff on the global pharmaceutical sector unless drugmakers slash their U.S. prices and move production to America. Mr. Trump said that he told Ms. Keller-Sutter during their call that Switzerland makes 'a fortune with pharmaceuticals.'"

Trump has also previously mentioned/threatened Swiss pharma (as well as pharma in general. )
 
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Nytimes reported:

"Excluding gold, Switzerland’s mammoth pharmaceutical industry accounts for half the value of Swiss products shipped to America. In 2024, Swiss drug companies, which include the pharma giants Roche and Novartis, exported around $35 billion worth of medicines, cancer treatments, vaccines and other drugs, according to the U.N. Comtrade database.

"Mr. Trump is threatening to set a high tariff on the global pharmaceutical sector unless drugmakers slash their U.S. prices and move production to America. Mr. Trump said that he told Ms. Keller-Sutter during their call that Switzerland makes 'a fortune with pharmaceuticals.'"

Trump has also previously mentioned/threatened Swiss pharma (as well as pharma in general. )
So this is pure speculation (not yours, NYT's) what may or may not happen. At present, Swiss pharmaceuticals are excluded from any tariffs. What will actually happen, we shall see. It would be highly damaging if pharmaceuticals are tariffed or prices are regulated by the gov't, no matter how "well-meaning" it is. Damaging primarily for R&D and certainly for the consumers.
 
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Of course. Not even Melania knows what's going to happen next.
I suspect she knows of one thing that is NOT going to happen anytime soon. 😆
 
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I suspect she knows of one thing that is NOT going to happen anytime soon. 😆
Going by hand size and according to South Park........it's only a very little thing! 😳
 
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I think you're confusing what the government can do for visitors, and what it can do for citizens.
Wired:
UNITED STATES CUSTOM and Border Protection officials have sweeping powers to search anyone’s phone when they are entering the country—including US citizens [emphasis added]. Newly released figures show that over the past three months, CBP officials have been searching more phones and other devices than ever before.