this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2025
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The United States has placed Switzerland on a list of countries with "unfair trade practices".

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 hours ago

Trump is all about pretenses.

There are the "reasons" he's making those decisions, and then there are the "pretenses" he uses when the opportunity comes around to make them.

Swiss banks hold a lot of money from oligarchs and billionaires. Putin wants pressure put on them. But Trump has to find the "pretense" to do it so as to at least nominally not be seen as a russian asset. But what a coincidence, Lindt announces that they're going to supply Canada directly from Europe to avoid his tariffs. And BOOM. Pretense established.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Lol.

As an American I would give my right nut to live there instead of here.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago

As Belgian I do think Switzerland is one of the best countries on the entire planet. There's a reason why they have 30% immigrants, and it's not because German is a fun language to learn 😁

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 hours ago

LOL... well the clowns were elected to the presidency... why are we surprised at the never ending circus?!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago

If nothing else, at least Magats won't be able to hide their gold there anymore.

[–] LMurch 3 points 5 hours ago

Omg, we are absolute shit right now.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Can we get a digital badge that the citizens of any advanced liberal democracy that Magastan panels as "bad" can proudly display on their socials?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Don't sully the "-stan" countries like that, they don't deserve that association.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Doesn't "Stan" just mean land of (these people)?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, it does. But I think the intent of "Magastan" is to draw a comparison to "those countries". But this is stooping down to Trump's level imo

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 hours ago

Hmm yeah it could certainly be interpreted that way. I get your point. I've said Canukistan before, but not to denigrate others, however it could certainly be interpreted in a negative manner.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 9 hours ago (3 children)

How many months is it going to take for the Magats to realize they fucked America over?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Even if they self aware enough to see that, they will never admit it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 hours ago

Or they'll say they need to go through this difficult transition in order to return to their former glory.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 hours ago

they'll long be dead and their grandchildren will still claim this as "the best time in American history".

[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Empirical evidence says at least 100.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 hours ago

Making quality products that people actually want to buy is a dishonest and abusive practice, I'm glad someone finally spoke up.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 hours ago

Oh boy when you think you've done it all right with the oligarchs and stuff! NOT FAIR!

[–] [email protected] 65 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Switzerland has a positive balance of trade in goods and therefore appears on this list.

Ah that's why...

We have good arguments. And we have been doing exactly what President Trump wants for a long time.

Maybe it's time to fucking stop pleasing the orange cunt, he doesn't care!

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

This focus on the balance of trade is sooo stupid. The US spends more than it produces so it has an aggregate deficit on the trade balance. To stop this, you need to force Americans to spend less (I.e. ignite a recession), or produce more.

Tariffs against selected countries that have a strong bilateral trade surplus with the US will not affect the US’ aggregate trade balance, since it doesn’t affect consumption by/ or production of the US economy. This is common knowledge from econ 101, and shouldn’t need to be explained to a president that supposedly has a degree in business.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

To stop this, you need to force Americans to spend less (I.e. ignite a recession), or produce more.

Well, you need them to import less (i.e. stop making foreign government loans) or export less (i.e. start buying foreign government loans from other countries).

Neither of them is exactly a recession, but it's a large change that would trigger one if done badly. (AKA, the current administration will absolutely trigger one if they try - they aren't trying by the way.)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Ehm you have that reversed (or your phrasing is terrible). Production>consumption implies export>imports implies lending to abroad exceeds borrowing from abroad. Said differently, if the current account is in surplus, the capital account is (by definition) in deficit.

To make this all a bit more intuitive: suppose instead of spending money on consumption goods, we invest in foreign assets. In that case we spend less meaning that we either import less foreign goods or have more domestic produced goods available for export. The consequence is an increase in the current account surplus.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 hours ago

or your phrasing is terrible

It's the standard phrasing.

The loan is a piece of paper (well not anymore, but it used to be) that you make and sell around.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

(I.e. ignite a recession)

Don't worry, Drumpf is on the case!

[–] [email protected] 131 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (2 children)

Lmao what the actual fuck? Switzerland…? He’s going after the Swiss now…? I just… wow. What is happening.

Edit: it’s apparently about - and I shit you not - chocolate. And it’s their volume market brand. Not even the really good stuff.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Probably because Lindt said that they might supply Canada from Europe instead of the US.

Begun the chocolate wars have.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I thought the US especially enjoyed their puke flavoured chocolate? They don't need European chocolate.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago

The European chocolates would be specifically earmarked for Canada, so the US can keep their chocolate to themselves.

As a Canadian, I’d much prefer chocolate from local chocolatiers, though European chocolates are also a delightful treat.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

It's getting harder and harder to laugh at shit like this. I mean, it's still funny, but it really is not.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I feel the exact same. It’s tragicomedic.

I laugh to hide the pain. The secret sixth stage of grief is gallows humor.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 hours ago

the ancient greeks are so fucking jealous right now...

[–] [email protected] 43 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

they probably hold billions in frozen Russian assets

[–] [email protected] 28 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 37 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

What? Swiss banks been mean to Putin?

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[–] [email protected] 93 points 18 hours ago (6 children)

Europe needs to see that unity is the way to go. A united Europe is needed to stand against the mad kings in Russia and the US.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Europe, the place where 27 separate sovereign nations have formed a Union, needs to realise how important it is to be united?

Is that what you're saying?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 12 hours ago

Well tbey are commenting this on an article about switzerland, which is not in the EU. Though it is in Schengen and the EEA.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 hours ago

United States of America. The name wasn’t helping us unfortunately.

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