Ireland one of the countries most affected in transatlantic trade dispute

No early end to €40m US tariffs on Irish dairy produce

Tariffs on imports into the US (including €40m on Irish dairy products) have been increased to their highest levels in decades by the Donald Trump administration. Picture: AP/Alex Brandon)

American tariffs costing the Irish dairy sector €40 million a year are likely to stay in place, despite actions by the governments of France and Spain, and by plane manufacturer Airbus, bringing the EU to full compliance in a transatlantic trade dispute.

Since October 2019, the USA has applied a punitive tariff on imports of Irish butter and cheddar, among other products, after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) awarded the USA the authority to claim $7.5 billion in annual compensation, in retaliation for EU subsidies paid to Airbus.