BERLIN, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Swiss gold producers are

interested in setting up shop in the United States in the

future, said a senior Swiss economic affairs official on Friday

at a press conference after a tariff agreement was reached with

Washington.

Gold, which is a large contributor to Switzerland's trade

surplus with the United States, remains exempt from tariffs,

according.

However, gold is not very profitable for Switzerland, with a

"very, very small margin of perhaps 1% or less," said Helene

Budliger Artieda, director of the State Secretariat for Economic

Affairs (SECO).

"But I believe it's important for them. For the U.S., it's

crucial to strengthen its gold market," Budliger added.

The United States will reduce its tariffs on goods from

Switzerland to 15% from a crippling 39% under a new framework

trade agreement that includes a pledge by Swiss companies to

invest $200 billion into the U.S. by the end of 2028, the Swiss

government said on Friday.