Swiss Watch Exports Bounce Back in July Ahead of US Tariffs

Swiss watch exports returned to growth in July after a steep drop the previous month, as companies tried to build up their stock in the US ahead of higher trade tariffs.

Exports increased by 6.9% compared to a year earlier, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said in a statement Thursday. Excluding the US impact, exports would have dropped 0.9%, illustrating an industry still in the doldrums. Shipments to Japan fell significantly, and China went back into retreat.

The period coincided with intense lobbying by Swiss officials as President Donald Trump prepared to impose tariffs, part of his strategy ...