Swiss exports to the United States are now subject to a 12.5% tariff, a rate that exceeds the levy applied to European Union goods.
The increase follows the expiration of a temporary legal framework on Friday, forcing the White House to pivot to alternative statutory authorities to maintain trade barriers.
The shift in legal basis comes after the US Supreme Court ordered President Donald Trump to refund duties collected under the previous regime, ruling them illegal.
With that emergency measure lapsing, the administration has moved to impose new rates under different laws, resulting in a steeper burden for Swiss exporters compared to their EU counterparts.
This development intensifies the trade friction between Washington and Bern, complicating the outlook for Swiss manufacturers and exporters who rely heavily on the US market.
The disparity in tariff rates between the EU and Switzerland may also strain diplomatic relations, as the US adopts a more fragmented approach to its global trade policy.