Trump’s 39% tariff on Swiss imports reignites calls to scrap F-35 deal

Switzerland’s $6.25 billion order for Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets is back under political fire after US President Donald Trump imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss imports.  

Announced on August 1, 2025, the country’s national day, the move has rattled Bern’s diplomatic calculus and prompted calls from both left- and right-wing lawmakers to revisit the deal. The tariffs, aimed at narrowing the US trade deficit with Switzerland, have emboldened critics who once saw their call for cancellation dismissed.  

Free Democratic Party foreign policy spokesman Hans-Peter Portmann urged the National Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee to weigh halting future deliveries in favor of European-built aircraft. 

“In the current situation, we can’t simply carry on as if nothing happened,” Portmann told the local outlet Blick. “We can either accept a loss and cancel the contract, or we only purchase what we have already paid for, stop the next delivery tranches from the US, and fill our defense gaps with procurement from Europe.” 

Long-running political battle 

The F-35 debate has been a constant in Swiss politics for years. On September 27, 2020, Swiss voters narrowly approved, by just 50.1%, the procurement of new fighter jets for the Air Force. The government selected the F-35A in July 2021 to replace its McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornets and aging Northrop F-5 Tigers. The fifth-generation fighter jet was competing against the Dassault Rafale, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the Eurofighter Typhoon. 

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The choice immediately triggered a political backlash. In early 2022, the Socialist Party, Greens, and the Group for a Switzerland without an Army (GSsA) launched a petition to force a referendum on the procurement, gathering over 100,000 signatures. The movement argued the stealth jets were unnecessary, too expensive, and would erode Switzerland’s military neutrality. 

However, the Federal Council signed the contract in September 2022 before a nationwide vote could be held, citing the need to secure pricing and delivery slots. Parliament subsequently approved the purchase, effectively ending the referendum effort. 

Opposition reignited 

Left-wing parties have maintained their opposition, warning in June 2025 that additional costs of up to $1.3 billion could be incurred. Cited by Politico, Green lawmaker Balthasar Glättli noted that US price guarantees only match what the US Air Force pays, meaning tariffs on imported components could still push costs higher.  

Another petition by the so-called “Stop F-35 Alliance” urging the Swiss government to immediately halt the purchase of new US fighter jets gathered over 42,500 signatures. 

But Swiss People’s Party security spokesman Werner Salzmann called cancellation “absolutely hasty,” warning it could deepen the trade deficit and invite further tariffs.  

“It’s the only fifth-generation fighter, and other European countries continue to rely on it,” Salzmann argued. 

Even as the political debate reignites, Switzerland’s procurement work continues. From August 5 to 7, 2025, National Armaments Director Urs Loher visited Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, for technical discussions focused on offset obligations.

According to the Swiss defense procurement agency, the meetings were part of regular consultations to monitor project progress and further define industrial cooperation under the F-35 program.

Aviation industry impact 

The tariff shock is already being felt across aviation. On August 8, 2025, Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus announced it had temporarily halted deliveries of its PC-12 and PC-24 business jets to the US, citing a “significant competitive disadvantage.” The US accounts for around 40% of annual production for both models, making it a key market for the Stans-based company. 

The US recorded a $38 billion goods trade deficit with Switzerland in 2024, swelling to nearly $48 billion in the first half of 2025. Trump has accused Bern of doing too little to address the imbalance. Some lawmakers now want the Federal Council to negotiate directly with the US President to defuse tensions and potentially safeguard the fighter deal. 

But Switzerland is not alone in rethinking US defense acquisitions amid trade frictions. On August 8, 2025, Indian officials said the tariff dispute with Washington had prompted a broader review of planned purchases. The suspension of a Boeing P-8I deal came just days after New Delhi formally ruled out buying the F-35, instead favoring joint development and local production in line with its ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbharta’ policies. Indian sources warned that other programs could be at risk, including the General Electric F404 F2J3 engine powering Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Tejas fighter jet.

In Europe, Spain has also shifted course. On August 6, 2025, El País reported Madrid had effectively ruled out acquiring the F-35, suspending talks with the US in favor of prioritizing European defense projects.The post Trump’s 39% tariff on Swiss imports reignites calls to scrap F-35 deal appeared first on AeroTime.

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