Fashion
USTR Greer talks trade with Swiss as Swatch CEO blasts approach
By
Bloomberg
Published
November 9, 2025
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held a video call with top Swiss officials following this week’s diplomatic mission to the White House from captains of Swiss industry, as the country looks to negotiate a reduction in the punishing 39% tariff the US has imposed on Switzerland.
Greer held the virtual meeting with his Swiss counterpart Helene Budliger Artieda and economy Minister Guy Parmelin, according to a Linkedin post by the Swiss government late on Friday.
“Very constructive conversation with Ambassador Jamieson Greer on Trade and Investment,” the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs said in the post. “Great new dynamic in our bilateral relations, thanks to President Trump.”
It features screenshots and photos of all three in discussion, and is followed by dozens of likes and messages of encouragement from Swiss executives. The virtual gathering follows the in-person meeting in the Oval Office earlier this week between the CEOs of top Swiss companies and President Donald Trump.
Those present included Alfred Gantner, the founder of Partners Group Holding AG, Rolex SA boss Jean-Frederic Dufour, Daniel Jaeggi of commodity trader Mercuria Energy Group Ltd, Richemont SA Chairman Johann Rupert, Diego Aponte of shipping firm MSC and Marwan Shakarchi of MKS Pamp SA, a gold refiner.
While Dufour and Rupert are both influential figures in the luxury goods industry, their rival Nick Hayek, the outspoken CEO of Swatch Group AG took a very different tack.
“The only king I court is the customer,” Hayek told Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, perhaps in reference to the recent ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump’s presidency.
Hayek, whose company is the world’s largest watchmaker, said the CEOs’ visit sent a signal of weakness. Instead, he suggested that Switzerland — the seventh-largest investor in the US — should retaliate by threatening to cut investment, or ditch a deal to buy US-made F-35 jets.
“Are we William Tell,” he quipped in reference to the Swiss hero of folklore, “or are we a vassal?”
Trump’s tariff announcement, delivered on Switzerland’s national holiday, landed Swiss exporters with a rate higher than any other developed nation. The levy, which took effect in August, threatens to drive up costs for chocolatiers including Lindt, watchmakers and precision-tool manufacturers.
Budliger Artieda has made repeated trips to Washington in recent weeks in the hope of resolving the impasse. While demand for Swiss goods has, in some cases, withstood the impact of the tariffs, Bern has cut its growth forecast for next year, acknowledging the likelihood of economic damage.
Fashion
Vietnam targets GDP growth of at least 10% in 2026
The Ministry of Finance is giving the final touches to a draft resolution that lays out an initial road map to achieve these numbers.
Vietnam’s National Assembly recently approved several socio-economic targets for next year that include GDP growth of at least 10 per cent, GDP per capita of $5,400-$5,500, a rise in consumer price index of around 4.5 per cent and labour productivity gains of 8.5 per cent.
Exports are expected to rise by about 8 per cent in 2026, while retail sales of goods and services are targeted to rise by 11 per cent.
Total social investment is projected at nearly 4.93 quadrillion VND ($189 billion)—up by 18.7 per cent year on year (YoY) and equivalent to 33-33.7 per cent of GDP.
Exports are expected to rise by about 8 per cent in 2026, delivering a trade surplus of around $28 billion, while retail sales of goods and services are targeted to rise by 11 per cent, with a stretch target of 12 per cent.
Industrial hubs like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Da Nang and Dong Nai are also chasing double-digit gains.
Less affluent provinces like Son La, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Vinh Long, Dong Thap and Ca Mau are also targeting 8-per cent or better regional GDP growth, a domestic news agency reported.
The National Assembly has outlined 11 key task groups and solutions. The government has instructed relevant agencies to break these down into concrete, actionable plans under the resolution.
Core focuses include accelerating institutional reforms for greater transparency, consistency and equity in investment and business rules to unlock productive forces and pool resources; advancing a new growth model and economic restructuring; and ensuring timely delivery of strategic and critical infrastructure projects.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fashion
China’s electricity demand remains robust in November
Power use rose 6.2 per cent year on year (YoY) to 835.6 billion kilowatt-hours in November. Electricity consumption in the secondary industry increased by 4.4 per cent, reflecting stable industrial activity.
China’s electricity consumption grew steadily in November, indicating resilient economic activity, as per official data.
Power use rose 6.2 per cent YoY to 835.6 billion kilowatt-hours, with secondary industry consumption up 4.4 per cent.
Residential demand increased 9.8 per cent.
In the first eleven months, total electricity consumption climbed 5.2 per cent YoY to about 9.46 trillion kilowatt-hours.
Residential electricity uses also remained robust, rising 9.8 per cent to 105.7 billion kilowatt-hours during the month, as per Chinese media reports.
In the first eleven months of the year, China’s total electricity consumption grew 5.2 per cent YoY to approximately 9.46 trillion kilowatt-hours, pointing to sustained demand despite broader economic challenges.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Fashion
Climate change may hit RMG export earnings of 4 nations by 2030: Study
This translates to a 22-per cent reduction in export earnings versus a climate-adaptive scenario.
The apparel industries in Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan and Bangladesh may lose up to $65.8 billion in export earnings by 2030 and create a million fewer jobs due to the impact of climate changes if they make no efforts to manage heat stress and higher flooding, a study revealed.
Under the no-adaptation scenario, estimates for export earnings by 2050 are 68.8 per cent lower than in the adaptation scenario.
The estimates for 2050 are even worse. With the compounding effect of slower growth under the no-adaptation scenario, estimates for export earnings are 68.8 per cent lower than in the adaptation scenario.
The analysis also predicts that in these four countries, the employment levels in a no-adaptation scenario would be 8.64 million lower in 2050 than in the adaptative scenario.
The International Labour Organization’s Better Work team offered inputs for the study.
Extreme weather is already disrupting production, delaying orders and threatening workers’ health and incomes. As heat waves and floods become more severe and frequent, worker health, productivity, job creation, and earnings are increasingly at risk, Better Work said in a release.
Despite these challenges, there is reason for optimism. Action is under way across the apparel sector. Governments are introducing and enforcing new standards on workplace heat, ventilation, rest breaks, and access to water.
Global brands are adopting voluntary standards to better manage extreme heat and flooding risks across their supply chains. Manufacturers are training workers to identify and respond to heat stress and related illnesses.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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