Switzerland could see U.S. tariffs on its imports reduced to 15% as early as December, Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said. Currently, the general U.S. tariff on Swiss goods is 39%.

“In Switzerland, we are ready. It takes a bit more time for the USA. I hope everything is fine by early December, but we are pushing,” Parmelin told SRF.

He had previously noted that the government expected the lower tariffs to take 10 to 12 working days to enter the system, without specifying an exact date. In mid-November, Switzerland and the U.S. reached a preliminary agreement to lower the tariffs to 15%, more than three months after a 39% rate was imposed, the highest in Europe.

Parmelin added that detailed discussions were set to begin soon, and Switzerland might have the chance to request additional exemptions beyond those already secured under the proposed 15% rate. “One must not forget, we can also ask for some things … We can also say we want more exceptions in this area. We think that what we have given can still be lowered,” he said.