Swiss Watch Exports Jump in April Ahead of Threatened US Tariffs

Rolex luxury watches in a store in New York.

Photographer: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Swiss watch exports jumped by almost a fifth in April as shipments to the US more than doubled ahead of expanded tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.

Total shipments rose 18% to reach 2.5 billion Swiss francs ($3 billion) for the month, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, with exports to the US, the single biggest market, up a whopping 149%.