Dairy Tariffs Imposed by China a Disappointing Development – IFA
IFA Dairy Chair Martin McElearney has expressed disappointment at the introduction of tariffs by China on dairy goods, commencing today.
“We understand that tariff rates will range from 21.9% to 42.7% and are predominantly focused on milk, cream and cheese. At this stage infant milk formula is excluded from the tariff schedule.”
Irish dairy exports to China have declined since their peak in 2017 (€689.5m). In 2024, €382m worth of exports were exported to China and YTD figures for 2025 also indicate a decline.
“Infant formula still constitutes the majority of our exports to China, making up 55% of the total this year. We have also exported over €40m of casein and whey to the region in 2025.”
“While the impact of these tariffs may be limited from an Irish perspective, they are still concerning given the bearish market sentiment that dairy finds itself in at present. Any moves that undermine trade are concerning right now given the ample supply of milk that is in the market,” he concluded.
