The number of Swiss Emmental cheese dairies has now fallen to 74, whilst production still stands at 13,000 tons – “and we have not yet reached the end of the structural change”, says Roland Sahli, co-managing director of Swiss Gourmino AG, which currently exports matured cheese to 20 countries across all continents.

Switzerland’s agricultural policy, redefined in 2002, is based on the idea that Swiss cheese is competitive given the gap between Swiss and EU milk prices and a 10 to 15 per cent quality premium. However, currency fluctuations were not taken into account. Compared with 2001, the euro exchange rate has deteriorated by 50 per cent or more to date. As costs could only be reduced to a limited extent, prices had to be increased.

However, Sahli emphasises that there was no alternative to liberalisation. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) demanded the removal of border protection and product subsidies. There had also been a shortfall in structural reform.

Sahli complains about a constant stream of new trade barriers. He cites the US as an example, which has been a strategic market for Gourmino over the last 15 years. Due to the current president’s arbitrary actions, the company lost 40 per cent of its export volume last year.

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