America’s decision to increase import tariffs on a range of European products will apply to around half the Dutch cheese exports to the US, the foreign affairs ministry told broadcaster NOS on Friday.

Total Dutch cheese exports to the US were worth around €80m last year, and the new duties would apply to around €39m-worth of cheese, the ministry said.

On Thursday it emerged that Gouda and Edam cheese were not included in the list of imports to the US facing extra import duty after all.

The US announced a string of European products which will be subject to an extra import tax of 25% on Wednesday evening, but the Dutch cheeses were not on the finalised list. They were included in an earlier version.

The measures will be introduced on October 18 and cover items as diverse as whiskey, ham and mussels. Other Dutch cheese and dairy products as well as ham will be affected by the increase.