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Beyond Exports: Reimagining Swiss Resilience in a Tariff Era

  • Writer: Christophe Gisler
    Christophe Gisler
  • Oct 21
  • 3 min read

By G&G Strategies / GGST Partners

Bridging Swiss Innovation with U.S. Opportunity



The Turning Point

Switzerland’s long-standing export strength, rooted in precision manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and luxury goods, is being tested. The latest tariffs imposed by Washington have disrupted key sectors, from watchmaking to advanced medical technology, as seen in Biel’s Micro Precision Systems (MPS).

Once a hub for Swiss watchmaking, Biel now produces medical instruments so advanced they include components for the world’s only medically certified artificial heart. Yet, despite their global value, firms like MPS now face tariffs of up to 39%, threatening their margins and even U.S. access to life-saving technologies.

MPS’s CEO Gilles Robert highlights a critical truth: Switzerland’s success lies in an integrated ecosystem where precision engineering, measuring tools, and specialized fluids are locally produced and calibrated.

“It would be extremely challenging, if not impossible, to separate the components from the actual product assembly,” he explains.

This ecosystem, built on precision, partnership, and trust, is nearly impossible to duplicate abroad. And yet, as global supply chains fracture, relying solely on exports is no longer sustainable.

At G&G Strategies, we believe this moment demands a strategic evolution: Switzerland must shift from export dominance to innovation dominance, not abandoning exports, but reinforcing them through intellectual expansion.


A Dual Path: Innovation That Complements Exports

The shift toward innovation-led presence in the U.S. is not a rejection of Swiss export heritage—it’s a natural extension of it.

By establishing Swiss innovation hubs within the United States, Swiss companies can:

  • Access top-tier R&D networks, venture capital, and consumer proximity.

  • Deliver innovation directly to U.S. hospitals, universities, and tech ecosystems.

  • Continue embodying the “Swiss-made” standard—now through Swiss-led innovation on American soil.

This model creates a diverse and resilient ecosphere where exports remain vital, but innovation provides the cushion to withstand global trade turbulence.

For the United States, this partnership introduces something beyond goods—it offers a new resource: Swiss intellect, neutrality, and precision-driven innovation.


The Professional Truth

The Feasibility of American Hubs

While the concept of Swiss firms establishing U.S. bases offers clear promise, it must be weighed realistically.

Pros: Tariff Resilience. Local R&D and production can bypass many trade barriers.

  • Market Continuity — Maintains direct access to American customers and healthcare networks.

  • Intellectual Exchange — Combines Swiss precision with U.S. entrepreneurial speed.

  • Economic Diplomacy — Strengthens bilateral cooperation beyond goods.


Cons: Ecosystem Fragmentation — Precision networks like MPS depend on tightly knit Swiss supply chains.

  • High Setup Costs — Establishing compliant, high-tech operations in the U.S. is capital intensive.

  • Cultural and Identity Risks — “Swiss-made” must evolve into “Swiss-led” without losing authenticity.


Even with these challenges, Switzerland’s track record of adaptability is evident. Recent trade agreements with India, Mercosur, and China signal a clear national strategy of diversification and partnership. The same energy can be channeled into collaborative innovation hubs in the U.S. focused on MedTech, CleanTech, FinTech, and Food Innovation.


A Shared Future of Innovation

The U.S. has long been more than a buyer, it has been a creative counterpart to Swiss excellence. Both nations share entrepreneurial DNA: independence, rigor, and the courage to build.

By investing in U.S.-based innovation centers, Switzerland can turn today’s trade friction into tomorrow’s growth frontier. Together, Swiss precision and American drive can reshape transatlantic industry from a place of tension to one of co-creation.

We can’t export our way past tariffs, but we can innovate through them.

G&G Strategies / GGST Partners Bridging Swiss Innovation with U.S.










Sources & References

Media & Economic Reporting

Institutional & Research Sources

  • Switzerland Innovation (Official Network). “National Innovation Parks and Ecosystem Development.”https://www.switzerland-innovation.com/

  • SwissMedTech Association. “Industry Outlook 2025: Challenges in Global Trade and Supply Chains.”

  • Economiesuisse. “Swiss Export Data 2024–2025.”

  • State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Swiss GDP and Trade Statistics, 2025 Q3 Update.

  • Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) Reports. “Innovation Index and Global R&D Competitiveness.”

  • World Bank Data. “Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) – Switzerland.”

Analytical Frameworks Referenced

  • G&G Strategies internal research on Swiss–U.S. innovation partnerships (2024–2025)

  • Cross-comparative analysis of MedTech, FinTech, FoodTech, and CleanTech ecosystems in Switzerland and the United States


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