In a resolute move to shield its vaunted bank secrecy laws, the Switzerland government said on Wednesday that it would consider seizing the data pertaining to Swiss bank UBS AG's American clients, and would also prevent the bank from adhering to any court-ordered transfer of data for settling a tax case.

This most recent statement by the Swiss authorities is the most unyielding one thus far, ever since the Swiss government has locked horns with the US Justice Department over the issue related to the identities of over 50,000 American clients of the Swiss banking giant.

The Swiss Justice Ministry said: "Swiss law prohibits UBS from complying with a possible order by the court in Miami to hand over the client information. All the necessary measures should be taken to prevent UBS from handing over the information on the 52,000 account holders demanded in the U. S. civil proceeding."

Meanwhile, the US government has been persisting with its attempts to perforate the Swiss banking laws, endeavoring to lay its hands on those affluent Americans who evade taxes by stacking money secretly in overseas banks, like UBS.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against UBS, alleging that the bank of assisting Americans in concealing billions of dollars, citing legal limitations, and saying that it would disclose the client details in 'at home' trials.