#TrumpTariffs

The tariffs imposed by Trump are causing difficulties for Swiss watch sellers Reuters. A Rolex watchmaker's logo adorns a building on Grendel Street during a rainy day on Schwanenplatz in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 26, 2025.

Swiss watch sellers in Lucerne have gone through three tough months since American President Donald Trump pressured the luxury sector by threatening heavy tariffs, reducing interest from tourists who flock to the city partly to buy watches.

Reuters spoke with more than a dozen industry workers in the watch sales hub, including store managers and salespeople, who said the tariff uncertainty has weighed on a sector that exported watches worth 26 billion Swiss francs (32.79 billion dollars) in 2024.

The business is already facing weak Chinese demand, while in Switzerland, a franc powered by American trade uncertainty has made watches more expensive for foreign tourists.