Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER
The EAER is where the federal government’s expertise on economic affairs and trade policy is concentrated. You can follow our strategy for employment, growth and prosperity in Switzerland and for securing sustainable development. Furthermore, the EAER combines education, research and innovation – three areas that are crucial for our society and for Switzerland’s economic performance.
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Press releases
US tariffs: Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter and Vice President Guy Parmelin to travel to Washington
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, and the Vice President of the Federal Council, Guy Parmelin, are to fly to the United States on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, to facilitate meetings with the US authorities at short notice and hold talks with a view to improving the tariff situation for Switzerland.
US tariffs: Federal Council to adapt negotiations
Following the United States’ announcement of a higher 39% tariff on Swiss imports, the Federal Council decided on 4 August to continue negotiations. It remains in close contact with the affected sectors of the Swiss economy and with US officials. Switzerland is committed to securing fair treatment compared with its key competitors to safeguard favourable conditions for its economy.
Consumer prices remained stable in July
The consumer price index (CPI) remained unchanged in July 2025 compared with the previous month, at 107.8 points (December 2020 = 100). Inflation was +0.2% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Zinc detected in clogged syringes
Employees of the technology transfer centre ANAXAM and researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI used the unique analytical methods available at PSI to look inside pre-filled syringes. They found that, in rare cases, zinc from the needle shield can leach into the drug solution to be injected and possibly contribute to syringe clogging.
Revolutionizing energy technology with graphene: Scalable supercapacitor technology made from graphene
Supercapacitors, or supercaps in short, are fast, powerful energy storage devices. They complement the relatively slow (dis-)charging batteries in numerous applications ranging from electric cars to industrial machines and wind turbines. A team of Empa researchers wants to develop better supercaps based on graphene – and make them ready for large-scale commercial production.
Residential property prices increased by 1.9% in 2nd quarter 2025
The Swiss Residential Property Price Index (IMPI) rose in the 2nd quarter 2025 by 1.9% compared with the previous quarter and reached 123.3 points (4th quarter 2019 = 100). Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, inflation was 5.0%. These are some of the results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).