US President Donald Trump cited Switzerland as an example to defend his trade policy, arguing that countries such as Switzerland prosper because “we allow them to rip us off and make all this money,” he told Fox Business. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox When people picture Switzerland, they imagine an “ultra‑perfect” country, Trump said in an interview aired in the US on Tuesday evening. But, he argued, that image only exists because the US “allows them to make all this money”. Trump added that he could list around 40 other countries he believes benefit in the same way. + How US tariffs affected the Swiss economy In the interview, the president again pointed to the US’ $40 billion (CHF30.6 billion) trade deficit with Switzerland. He also revisited the phone call he had last summer with the then Swiss president, Karin Keller‑Sutter. At the time, he said, he assumed he was speaking to the country’s “prime minister”. As he did in his speech at the World ...
