Historical background
Relations between Switzerland and the United States of America are very diversified and have a rich tradition. Between 1700 and 2009, about 460,000 Swiss citizens emigrated to the US. The number of Americans with Swiss origin is estimated to be around one million. Currently, about 75,000 Swiss citizens are living in the US, i.e. about 10% of the total of the Swiss Abroad.

In the 19th century, a relationship of friendship developed between the two “sister republics”, Switzerland and the USA, on the basis of shared values such as democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights. In 1822, Switzerland opened its first consulates in the USA, in Washington and in New York. 60 years later, the opening of the Swiss Embassy in Washington marked Switzerland’s first embassy outside Europe.

Current state of bilateral relations
The USA is a major partner for Switzerland in every sphere due to the position of the USA as a world political and economic power.

The strategic goal of Swiss foreign policy in the recent past has been to optimise the defence of our interests through deepening and structuring our bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation with the USA in areas of mutual interest. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on intensifying relations, in May 2006, and the launch of a regular high-level political dialogue as well as regular meetings on operational issues at the expert level have led to the revival and consolidation of our bilateral relations. Networking with the US Administration and Congress has been strengthened. Both countries are interested in achieving progress through intensifying cooperation in areas of shared interest.

Switzerland represents American interests in Iran and Cuba, as well as Cuban interests in Washington. Part of the Iran mandate is to protect the interests of the 7,000 individuals living in Iran with US-Iranian dual nationality.

In addition to the common search for solutions to global problems, Switzerland’s interests are primarily economic in nature. The United States is the second largest export market for Switzerland (2010: CHF 20.6 bn) and by far the main destination for Swiss direct investments abroad (2009: CHF 165.9 bn). The USA has direct investments in Switzerland totalling CHF 73.7 bn, making it the forth largest foreign investor in Switzerland. From the US perspective, too, Switzerland is an important destination for US direct investments. In 2009, Switzerland was the 8th largest destination of US direct investment with a total volume of USD 123.4 bn.

More than 550 Swiss companies have subsidiaries in the US, employing about 400,000 people. To strengthen these close economic relations, the two countries established a Joint Economic Commission in the year 2000. And since 2006, and Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum has been in existence. The aim of both bodies is to strengthen bilateral trade relations and to facilitate trade.

The United States of America is also a top-priority partner in the fields of tertiary education, science, and cultural affairs. Thanks to its leading research and development infrastructure, the US also makes a decisive contribution in the field of technology to our country. The intensive cooperation in this sector (through the “swissnex” Swiss Knowledge Network Outposts in Boston and San Francisco) was further strengthened with the signing of the Swiss-US bilateral agreement on scientific and technological cooperation in April 2009.

Since 2001, both countries have maintained active contacts at parliamentary level through two friendship associations of parliamentarians: in Switzerland, the “Swiss Parliamentary Association Switzerland-USA”; in the USA, "Friends of Switzerland Caucus".