IFA expresses its dismay following Trumps tariffs announcement
The US president imposed a 20% tariff on all of the European Union
Print3 April 2025
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has released a statement in response to the tariffs confirmed by the US president Donald Trump on Wednesday, 2 April.
The Irish business group has expressed its dismay following the recent announcement as it envisages a negative impact.
The US president imposed a 20% tariff on all of the European Union (EU).
Tariff comparisons
In a statement, the IFA said: “The relative differences will impact the competitiveness of Irish products on the US market, including Kerrygold.”
“The fact that New Zealand only has a 10% tariff for dairy products and the UK only has a 10% tariff on drinks, while the EU will have 20% tariffs, will leave us at a competitive disadvantage against some of our biggest competitors in these two sectors,” it notes.
The national organisation further mentions the importance of the US market, which, according to the IFA, accounts for around 11% of the total food and drinks exports.
Drinks account for €900 million of the circa €1.9 billion worth of products that travelled to the US last year.
Whiskey is the predominant drink that made the trip, where pigmeat, beef and seafood also travelled and languished up a value of €35.6 million.
Kerrygold concerns
They further raise concerns about Kerrygold which is reportedly the second-best-selling butter in the US.
€500 million of Kerrygold was believed to have been exported to the US in 2024.
The market accounts for 7.5% of the IFAs dairy export, the group concluded.
© 2025, ShelfLife by Ryan Brennan
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