Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin pushed back against criticism of Switzerland’s preliminary trade agreement with the US, which cuts tariffs on many Swiss goods from 39% to 15%.

“It’s been a long road, and the result is the best we could achieve,” Parmelin said in an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger on Sunday. “We haven’t sold our souls to the devil,” he added.

Some political parties, including the Greens, had questioned the agreement, in particular the involvement of billionaire Swiss executives. The government had had been engaged in intense diplomacy since August, when Switzerland was hit by the highest levy the Trump administration imposed on any developed country.

Parmelin said the preliminary agreement will be followed by futher talks with the US. “Above all, it giv

See Full Page