Source: RealClearPolitics
by W Joseph Campbell
“The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska contrasted sharply with another president’s visit this month – that of Karin Keller-Sutter, president of Switzerland. She hurried to Washington, D.C., to trim or forestall a staggering, 39% tariff ordered by Trump on most Swiss exports to the United States. Unlike Putin, Keller-Sutter received no red-carpet treatment, no effusive welcome. She didn’t even see Trump, conferring instead with Secretary of State Marco Rubio before returning home empty-handed. The 39% tariff, one of the steepest U.S. levies in the world, took effect August 7. Trump’s behavior during the respective presidential visits was asymmetrical – but unsurprising. He has a tendency to cozy up to powerful leaders while, at least on occasion, insulting or ignoring leaders of smaller, weaker, more out-of-the-way countries. The Swiss-tariffs episode is an illustration of that impulse – and it’s hardly the only such example.” (08/21/25)