Swiss brands like Victorinox, the manufacturer of the iconic pocket knife, are struggling to adapt to the 39% tariff imposed by the United States on imports of Swiss goods. In addition to price rises, firms are considering moving their activities from Switzerland…
…The Schwyz-based manufacturer of the famous Victorinox Swiss pocket knife anticipated the customs shock by building up stocks in the US, its main export market. The additional costs are therefore “controllable” this year, but if they were to be maintained, “we are talking about additional costs of up to $13 million a year from 2026 onwards”, managing director Carl Elsener told AWP by e-mail.
Elsener said it was an “extraordinarily difficult situation” right now, as the group is already suffering from a strong Swiss franc. Surcharges are exacerbating the situation, “particularly for products such as professional knives, where we are in direct competition with American and European manufacturers”. Victorinox generates 13% of its sales in the US, and 18% for its sales of professional and kitchen knives.
If you can’t tell, I have been down a tariff rabbit-hole. Trying to put something together for this upcoming Knife News column.
Read the whole thing at Swissinfo.ch
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