Swiss business leaders' trip helped thaw in US trade relations

ZURICH, Nov 09 (Reuters): Switzerland could be close to winning a respite from the 39 per cent tariffs imposed by the United States on imports of its goods, newspaper Blick reported on Sunday, after a visit by business leaders to US President Donald Trump helped thaw relations.

A letter of intent to break the trade impasse is expected in the next few weeks, the paper said, without citing sources, before a deal is presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.

If everything goes as planned, Trump and next year's Swiss President Guy Parmelin will present a plan for US import duties comparable to the 15 per cent tariffs Washington has already agreed with the European Union, the paper said.

The Swiss Economic Affairs Ministry declined to comment on the report, which follows a visit by Swiss business leaders with Trump on Tuesday.