Civic foreign policy experts dare not make a forecast after Trump’s election
Published: Wednesday, Nov 6th 2024, 16:20
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The presidents of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the National Council and the Council of States have been cautious about the consequences of Donald Trump's election. Much remains to be seen. Switzerland must follow developments on the global political stage closely.
"We can talk for hours about the consequences for various dossiers, but we don't know what Trump wants and will do," Marco Chiesa (SVP/TI), President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of States (FAC-S), told the media in the Federal Parliament on Wednesday. The only thing that is clear is that the new American president will fight for the interests of the USA.
Trump will defend the US philosophy of a superpower, said Chiesa. "It won't change that much for us in Switzerland."
"We live in complicated times"
Because Trump is "a businessman", he could have positive effects from an economic perspective, Chiesa speculated. "I don't expect high tariffs for Switzerland because we have good products with good quality."
He expects the USA to take a "more critical stance" on climate and foreign policy, said Chiesa. Trump is less concerned with international issues than with national ones. However, the developments are unpredictable. One thing is clear: "We are living in complicated times."
Like Chiesa, Laurent Wehrli (FDP/VD), President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council (APK-N), was surprised by the clarity of the result in favor of Trump. Apparently, he was more convincing in his appearances than Kamala Harris. "He said what he wanted to do."
"It is likely to become more difficult for diplomacy"
According to Wehrli, the USA is and will remain an important economic partner for Switzerland. There have also been protectionist decisions under President Joe Biden. There has been little progress on the free trade agreement between the USA and Switzerland.
According to Wehrli, foreign policy and political discourse will probably change the most. "It will probably be more difficult for diplomacy." At the same time, he expects Trump to get less involved in wars. "We must remain vigilant."
©Keystone/SDA
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