Key facts
- Swiss Gruyere cheese producers are facing reduced sales in the U.S. due to tariffs.
- A 5% production cut has been implemented by the producers' association to manage inventory and maintain prices.
- The U.S. market represented about 13% of Gruyere's export sales.
- Cheesemakers are actively exploring new global markets to offset the loss of U.S. demand.
Swiss cheesemakers, particularly those producing Gruyere, are grappling with a significant drop in sales to the United States following the imposition of U.S. import tariffs. The tariffs, which rose to 12.5% this year, have led the Gruyere producers' association to reduce production by 5% to prevent a surplus and stabilize prices. Cheesemaker Alexandre Murith noted that while restrictions are inconvenient, they are necessary to avoid drastic price cuts. The U.S. market traditionally constituted about 13% of Gruyere sales. Cheese trader Anthony Margot highlighted the difficulty of replacing such a large market and emphasized the ongoing efforts to find new international buyers, acknowledging that this process requires time and financial resources.