Switzerland will reduce the number of cows due to U.S. tariffs

Switzerland is considering the destruction of part of the national herd of cows due to U.S. tariffs on cheese. The U.S. imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss cheese imports, which led to a surplus of milk in Switzerland. As a result of these measures, Swiss farmers are considering reducing production and destroying around 25,000 cows.

The tariffs on Swiss cheese exports to the U.S. were part of a change in trade policy by the Trump administration. In combination with other tariffs and the devaluation of the U.S. dollar, they increased the tax rate on Swiss imports to over 50%, reports Infagro.

The prices of Swiss cheese in the U.S. jumped sharply from $15-50 per kilogram to $20-70 per kilogram. As a result, Swiss farmers are facing an oversupply of milk in the domestic market, caused by both the new tariff and the unusually rainy spring, which led to record milk yields from 550,000 cows in the country.