The Macgyver knife, a new victim of customs duties. Known for its pocket knives equipped with bagcorchos and boxing openers, Victorinox, based in Ibach, not far from Lac des Quatre Cantons, it is currently working with its equipment in the United States to find solutions. But “relocating production abroad, especially for pocket knives, is not an option”, the brand is in essence “defined by its Swiss origin,” said his boss on Wednesday, Carl Elsener, in an email.
Switzerland sounds in 39% of punitive customs tasks since last Thursday to Swiss products that enter the United States. This surcharge, much higher than 15% imposed on the products of the European Union or Japan, has the effect of a blow for both industrial machines and watches, cheese or chocolate.
Therefore, the additional costs that these customs duties are, therefore, manageable for the current year. “Thanks to these actions, the Switzerland” deliberately “may refrain from increasing their prices” until the end of the year “, specifies.” However, if these customs tasks remain in place, we are in the process of contemplating up to $ 13 million in additional costs per year from 2026 “, warns the chief of the manufacturer of the famous knives of the Swiss army.
Stay “flexible”
“These new customs tasks intervene at a time when the situation is already tense”, with the weakening of the dollar against the Swiss Franc and, therefore, represent “a massive challenge for our competitiveness,” he insists. Victorinox, who also manufactures kitchen knives, is arguing with his teams in the United States to see “to what extent” price increases are possible next year and if “certain stages”, “such as final cleaning or professional knife packaging”, they can be done “directly on the site,” he explains.
But if the company is still “flexible” to “adapt to changing conditions”, it insists that it remains “committed” along with its Ibach site, where it had been founded in 1884 by its great -grandfather.
In 2024, Victorinox achieved a turnover of 417 million Swiss francs (442 million euros at the current rate). The United States, its first export market, contributed to 13% of its sales, this figure rose 18% for its sales of professional and cooking knives. The Switzerland is well known in the United States, especially through the television series of the 1980s and early 1990s “Macgyver”, where the hero regularly came out of difficult situations thanks to its faithful Swiss knife. Some models are equipped with screwdrivers, metal saw, scissors and electric wire removal.
Source: BFM TV
