News

In July 2025 the consumer sentiment index stood at –33 points. This is practically the same as in July 2024. The following sub-indices were higher than in July 2024: past financial situation, financial outlook and moment to make major purchases. The following sub-index is lower than a year ago: economic outlook.

On 7 August, the Federal Council acknowledged that additional tariffs of 39% are now being applied to Swiss products entering the United States. It remains firmly committed to pursuing discussions with the US with the aim of reducing these tariffs as swiftly as possible. The Federal Council is maintaining close contact with US authorities and the affected industry sectors. It will also shortly engage in detailed discussions on potential relief measures for Swiss businesses and continue to assess the need for further economic policy action.

National Armaments Director Urs Loher travelled to the United States from 5 to 7 August for a working visit. Together with a delegation from the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse, he met with representatives from Lockheed Martin for technical discussions.

Engineer, mechanics expert, bone researcher, materials scientist: Jakob Schwiedrzik has a multifaceted research profile. For several months now, he has been at the helm of Empa's Laboratory for High-Performance Ceramics. With his interdisciplinary expertise, his thirst for knowledge and his drive for action, he wants to help both his laboratory and ceramics as a material to reach new heights.

The speed with which regulatory authorities are able to make scientifically sound decisions on applications for the authorisation of innovative medicines is crucially important both for the industry and for patients. At the international level, Swissmedic is keeping pace with other leading regulatory authorities. Each year, the Centre for Innovation in Regulatory Science (CIRS) analyses the time taken by six authorities worldwide to authorise innovative medicinal products with new active substances. According to the latest “R&D Briefing 101”, Swissmedic remains one of the most efficient regulatory authorities, ranked second behind Japan in scientific assessment time and on a par with the EMA in terms of total throughout time. During the period under review, a large proportion of applications were processed under fast-track or internationally coordinated procedures such as Project Orbis or the Access Consortium, resulting in significantly shorter approval times.

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, and the Vice President of the Federal Council, Guy Parmelin, are to fly to the United States on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, to facilitate meetings with the US authorities at short notice and hold talks with a view to improving the tariff situation for Switzerland.

A new final report (railways) is available on the website of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board STSB.

You could be interested by new pages which have been published on the OFCOM website between 15.07.2025 and 31.07.2025.

Following the United States’ announcement of a higher 39% tariff on Swiss imports, the Federal Council decided on 4 August to continue negotiations. It remains in close contact with the affected sectors of the Swiss economy and with US officials. Switzerland is committed to securing fair treatment compared with its key competitors to safeguard favourable conditions for its economy.

Federal Councillor Albert Rösti and FOEN Director Katrin Schneeberger will represent Switzerland at the fifth round of negotiations on a global agreement against plastic pollution from 5 to 14 August 2025. Switzerland is committed to an effective and practicable agreement to protect the environment and health, while emphasising the challenges of agreeing on a set of global rules.

The consumer price index (CPI) remained unchanged in July 2025 compared with the previous month, at 107.8 points (December 2020 = 100). Inflation was +0.2% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) at Swiss National Day in Gersau – Check against delivery