by InTrieste
The U.S. government on Thursday announced a significant reduction in proposed tariffs on Italian pasta, following months of diplomatic negotiations and lobbying by Italian producers. The decision was welcomed by both industry groups and American consumers.
The tariffs, initially proposed as an “anti-dumping” measure, would have added 91 percent to the existing 15 percent general tariff on European agri-food imports, effectively more than doubling the cost of Italian pasta in the United States. Under the revised plan, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) will impose tariffs ranging from 2 to 14 percent, with a final decision expected in early March.
The proposed tariffs followed an investigation by the DoC into two major Italian producers, La Molisana and Garofalo, which were accused of selling pasta below market value between July 2023 and June 2024. Both companies denied the allegations. The revised tariffs will set La Molisana’s duty at 2.26 percent and Garofalo’s at 13.98 percent, while 11 other producers will face tariffs of 9.09 percent, according to the Italian foreign ministry.
The threatened tariffs had raised concerns that Italian exporters might withdraw from U.S. supermarkets, and would have nearly doubled prices for many brands. Italy’s Agriculture Minister, Francesco Lollobrigida, warned in October that the measures represented a “hyper-protectionist mechanism against our pasta producers” without justification.
The United States is one of Italy’s largest markets for pasta, with exports totaling nearly €671 million in 2024, according to the Italian agricultural association Coldiretti. The group said the reduction in tariffs marked a positive outcome for the sector, praising the efforts of Italian officials. “The good news coming from the United States demonstrates how serious work, without unnecessary alarmism, bears fruit,” Lollobrigida said.
