Italy claims that following a review, the US has drastically reduced the proposed pasta taxes
The Italian foreign ministry announced on Thursday that the United States had drastically reduced proposed new tariffs on a number of Italian pasta manufacturers after a preliminary investigation into their purported anti-dumping actions.
According to a U.S. Commerce Department official, an updated examination revealed that many of the issues brought up in an initial evaluation had been resolved by Italian exporters.
In addition to the standard 15% tariff on most EU imports, the United States announced in October that 13 Italian pasta companies would be subject to an additional 92% charge. The country accused two specific producers, La Molisana and Garofalo, of selling pasta at unreasonably cheap rates.
The U.S. decided to lower the tariff for La Molisana to 2.26% after updating its assessment, while Garofalo’s rate was set at 13.98%, according to a statement from the Italian foreign ministry. The remaining 11 producers, who were not specifically looked at in the evaluation, are subject to a 9.09% tariff.
“The recalculation of the duties is a sign that U.S. authorities recognise our companies’ constructive willingness to cooperate,” said the ministry of foreign affairs.
In an email, a representative of the US Department of Commerce stated that Washington was dedicated to a “fair, transparent process.”
“(Our) post-preliminary analysis indicates that Italian pasta makers have addressed many of Commerce’s concerns raised in the preliminary determination,” the source continued. “Commerce will continue to engage with interested parties to take into account all information before issuing the final determination.”
Although the deadline may be extended by up to 60 days, this is set for March 12. There hasn’t been an increase in duties thus far; the new import levies won’t alter until the complete results are examined.
About 16% of Italian pasta imports into the United States come from the 13 companies under examination.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had believed that her close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump would protect Italian industries from any further tariffs, but the threatened pasta taxes had disgraced her.
Data from Italy’s national statistics agency, ISTAT, shows that the country’s total pasta exports in 2024 were valued at more than 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion). The value of the U.S. market to Italian companies was about $800 million.
Margherita Mastromauro, president of the Unione Italiana Food Association’s pasta makers sector, applauded the decision to lower the planned additional levies.
“The decision by U.S. authorities confirms that the United States is a country attentive to Italy and the fate of our economy,” she stated in a statement.
