Swiss cheesemakers try to fill hole in sales from US tariffs
By Cecile Mantovani and Denis Balibouse
MOLESON-SUR-GRUYERES, Switzerland, July 25 (Reuters) – Alpine farmers who produce one of Switzerland’s most famous cheeses are looking for ways to fill the gap in sales left by U.S. import tariffs that have reduced demand in one of their most important export markets.
Gruyere cheese was affected by a new 10% US tariff imposed last year, rising to 12.5% this year. Producer associations responded by reducing production by 5% to maintain prices.
“The cheese is not actually sold and the measure is there to prevent overstocking. It also helps keep the price stable,” said cheesemaker Alexandre Murith, who spends the summer with his wife and four children grazing on mountain pastures and tending to the cows that provide the milk used to make Gruyere.
“Of course, restrictions are always a challenge, but this allows us to keep the price of Gruyere at a reasonable level rather than dropping prices just to move the product,” he said.
The U.S. market has traditionally represented about 13% of sales for Gruyere, which has a stronger flavor and slightly sharper odor than its punctured compatriot Emmental.
They say the production cut has hit farmers hard, but they are reluctant to give exact figures. The 5% reduction for the Gruyere variety, which is produced at lower altitudes and is the most exported, was continued for the second year. As for the type produced by Murith, there is no interruption for the next season.
“We’re hit hard in 2026,” said Anthony Margot, a cheesemonger who ages thousands of wheels at a time on neat wooden shelves that extend to the ceiling in his basement.
“We work every day to find new markets around the world. But the United States is a huge market with high purchasing power; it is clear that this cannot be changed overnight,” he added.
“Of course we are actively looking for opportunities everywhere, but this takes time and money.”
(Written by François Murphy; Edited by Kevin Liffey)
