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
India’s Pearl Global’s FY26 revenue crosses $521 mn milestone
The company’s adjusted EBITDA, excluding Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) expenses, rose around 14 per cent YoY to ₹468 crore, while EBITDA margin improved by 20 basis points to around 9.3 per cent. Excluding the reciprocal tariff impact of around ₹36 crore and incremental losses of around ₹13 crore in Bihar and Guatemala, adjusted EBITDA margin stood at around 10.3 per cent.
Pallab Banerjee, managing director, Pearl Global Industries, said: “FY26 marked the company’s second consecutive year of double-digit growth and improved profitability. This performance further solidifies the position of Pearl Global’s diversified operating model and disciplined execution across geographies.”
Pearl Global Industries has reported its highest-ever FY26 revenue of ₹5,025 crore (~$523.93 million), up 11.5 per cent YoY, driven by volume growth and value-added products.
PAT rose 17 per cent to ₹270 crore (~$28.15 million), while Q4 revenue hit ₹1,314 crore (~$137 million).
The company shipped 78.1 million pieces.
Its net worth stands at ₹1,438 crore (~$149.93 million).
He said that geopolitical shifts and Gulf conflicts could lead to energy cost escalation, affecting raw material and logistics costs. However, the company remains prepared to manage these headwinds, supported by its diversified manufacturing base, strong order book, and broad market presence.
The profit after tax (PAT) increased 17 per cent YoY to ₹270 crore (~$28.15 million), the company said in a press release.
On a standalone basis, FY26 revenue stood at ₹1,081 crore, while adjusted EBITDA was ₹67 crore, with EBITDA margin improving by 60 basis points to 6.2 per cent, mainly due to cost restructuring. Standalone PAT rose to ₹69 crore from ₹55 crore in the previous year.
The company’s net worth stood at ₹1,438 crore (~$149.93 million) as of March 31, 2026, compared with ₹1,146 crore a year earlier.
“In FY26, Group delivered another year of resilient performance against a complex geopolitical backdrop. Group achieved, among others, two major milestones this year: revenue crossed INR 5,000 crore mark and installed capacity surpassed 100 million pieces per annum,” said Pulkit Seth, vice-chairman and non-executive director, PGIL.
Seth added that the global apparel industry faced tariff-related disruptions during FY26, with the company’s India operations impacted by tariffs and penal duties imposed by the US. However, he added that Pearl Global leveraged its diversified, multi-country manufacturing presence to mitigate these challenges and deliver double-digit growth.
For the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY26, PGIL posted its highest-ever quarterly revenue of ₹1,314 crore (~$137 million), up 6.9 per cent YoY. Adjusted EBITDA rose 13.7 per cent to ₹135 crore, with margin at 10.3 per cent, the highest EBITDA margin recorded by the company in any quarter. PAT for the quarter stood at ₹81 crore, up 24.6 per cent YoY, PGIL said in a press release.
Standalone revenue during the quarter stood at ₹304 crore, adjusted EBITDA at ₹24 crore, and PAT at ₹14 crore.
PGIL shipped its highest-ever volumes in Q4 FY26 and FY26, at 22 million pieces and 78.1 million pieces respectively. Its annual installed capacity crossed 100 million pieces, reaching around 101 million pieces.
The ongoing capex in Bangladesh is expected to be completed by the first half of FY27 and will add around 6-7 million pieces of capacity during the year.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Fashion
Polyester yarn prices ease as PTA weakens on limited demand
PTA prices recorded notable declines across key Asian benchmarks, tracking crude oil weakness rooted in evolving geopolitical signals. The correction was broad-based, spanning China, Southeast Asia, and South Korea, while India**;s CIF price held steady reflecting the lag in import contract structures and limited spot availability in the domestic market on the day.
The *** per cent Polyester Yarn market witnessed a slightly negative trend during the assessed period, with mild price corrections observed across both yarn grades in the Asia Free on Board (FOB) China market. Prices for **s (*** per cent polyester yarn) declined from around $*.***/kg to nearly $*.***/kg, registering a decrease of approximately *.** per cent.
Fashion
Bangladesh apparel reset: Compliance edge or energy trap?
The pivot is urgent because the old model is under pressure. April **** looked strong: Ready-Made Garment (RMG) exports rose **.** per cent year on year to $*.** billion. But the ten-month picture is weaker. From July-April FY****–**, apparel exports stood at $**.** billion, down *.** per cent. Knitwear fell *.** per cent to $**.** billion; woven fell *.** per cent to $**.** billion. The rebound is real, but so is the drag underneath.
AWARE is the sharpest EU-facing signal: blockchain-backed product data for Digital Product Passport (DPP) readiness. Open Supply Hub adds the factory-identity layer, pushing production information into an open platform. GIZ brings the longer reform spine, from May **** to February ****, covering energy efficiency, circularity, chemical management, renewable-energy skills and textile-waste transparency.
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