From Irish whiskey to Italian cheese, U.S. tariffs rattle EU exporters

Along the “last road in Ireland”, on the rough western coast in the country, June O’Connell’s Skellig Six18 is making jinn and whiskey-which is a thick time that is guided by wind, rain and cold temperatures rolling throughout the year off the Atlantic Ocean.

America was a natural targeted market once its first souls were ready for sale in 2019, according to O’Connell, given its strong knowledge of Ireland and a great appetite for distinguished drinks. As an independent supplier, negotiations with distributors, marketers and retail dealers took more than a year, and their first products in Kerry County left in November 2023 to launch the United States in early 2024.

Then the political tide began to turn to the White House.

“Once it becomes clear, what is the way things were going, people were trying to get a lot of products in the United States,” Ocunel told CNBC.

Since the beginning of the year, President Donald Trump’s ads have been unpredictable wandering in all sizes.

The European Union in particular attracted Trump’s anger for the surplus of trade in the United States of 198 billion euros (231 billion dollars) in the United States

he Customs tariffs are needed To create a more balanced relationship; However, European Union officials argue that trade is more through goods, services and investments, and pledged to increase the purchases of oil and gas to narrow the gap.

Last week, Trump announced that he was planning The European Union was hit with a 30 % blanket tariff From August 1, negotiations at the last minute failed to produce a frame deal. The huge uncertain now is suspended Whether an agreement can be concluded In the next two weeks, what details or Concessions It may contain.

The Trump administration has already imposed a 10 % baseline duty on European Union imports, along with high rates Cars and Minerals.

The fact that The commercial deal in the United Kingdom with the United States It maintained a 10 % basic tariff with some exemptions from the sector, which led many to believe that this might be the best hope in Europe. Financial times I mentioned Friday Trump is now taking a more difficult line in the European Union negotiations and pushing the minimum customs tariff of 15-20 %, citing people who have been briefed on the talks. CNBC has not independently confirmed the report.

The value of the European Union food and drink trade is approximately 30 billion euros, and the Fooddrinkeurope group of the Fooddrinkeurope group this week warned that any escalation in the definitions – which the importer generally pays – will strike European producers and farmers, while reducing the choice and increasing American consumers.

Until an import tariff of 10 % in the United States I was imposed in April The effect of the final price, provided that the consumer is much higher as soon as the supply chain is passed.

In terms of pricing, 30 % [tariffs] It will not be defended. She added that the whole situation suffocates your ambition in the United States.

For Frank Chaoisney, the head of the French distillation company, it was a 10 % tariff. Founded in 1834, Combier is famous for making it Triple SEC – used in Margarita – the United States represents about 25 % of its total sales.

However, Chaoisney notes that the 10 % tariff comes over a blow from the currency market. A The weakest US dollar This year has made more expensive for the United States to import foreign goods, which is an additional wet on request.

He said that the customs tariff is 30 %, in addition to the effects of the exchange rate, which means that a total rate of 45-50 % is reflected in the final consumer prices, a level that can sell his company sales in the United States to half.

“We understand that President Trump wants a better balance between imports and exports, but at this level by 30 %, of course the European Union will respond, the trade will be hit and will be a losing situation,” he said.

US exporters Products like Bourbon A worker, a worker, said that he kept optimistic that the two sides will eventually negotiate the zero -zero -making deal.

In the Lombardy countryside in Italy, more than half a million huge wheels of Granna Padano cheese from the supply lines of the family run by the family every year. The company, which also manufactures Parmesan and other solid cheeses, emit more than 70 % of its products, and the United States represents 15 % of its total rotation.

According to its president and CEO of Attilio Zentti, the fluctuations created by the definitions this year were unlike any, with contradictory ads generating a huge amount of additional supervisor.

He said: “It gives a lot of uncertainty and does not allow us to organize a real strategy.”

ZENetti said the weakest definitions of the dollar in addition to increasing retail prices in the United States by 25 %. “The additional increases will, of course, reflect directly on wholesale and retail prices in the United States, and we are afraid that this will affect the folders,” he said.

Else SiemensFor example, CNBC told it that she had taken steps to localize manufacturing, and the BOSCH engineering group said that it was giving priority to a local model for a local because it is looking to expand its business in North America.

However, for Squellig Six18’s O’Connell, moving production is not possible. This is because the production of “protected” elements – such as Irish whiskey, Italian pork or French champagne – cannot be transferred to another place.

Instead, O’Connell’s focuses on the new possible markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America, but I have noticed it difficult to do so in places without strong whiskey sales. Meanwhile, Franck Choisne indicated by Combier Distillery that marking in a new and cost -effective place may take years. In other words, it is not easy to resolve sales decline in the United States.

“In such times, I just try to remember that I am in an almost 700 -year -old industry, which requires patience and reminds you that things do not last forever.” “You just have to continue controlling control.”

Sam Meridith from CNBC contributed to this story.