Consumer
Swiss Tariff Deal Brings Relief to Struggling Watchmakers
Companies have cut workers’ hours as US exports plunged
La Chaux-de-Fonds is considered one of the hubs of Swiss watchmaking.
Photographer: David Taljat/Getty ImagesThree months. That’s how long it took Swiss watchmaker Grovana to restart exports to the US when Donald Trump hit the country with a 39% tariff rate.
After the announcement in August, Grovana’s owners had to figure out how much of the levy it could absorb, assess the damage to profits and renegotiate with its main distributor on prices. In early November, finally, shipments to the US began again.