Italian pasta sees tariff relief as US drops proposed rates from 92%

The U.S. Commerce Department slashed expected tariffs on imports of Italian pasta, which the Trump administration had previously proposed at 92% due to fears of dumping. — Image credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

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Summary

Reduced rates

The U.S. Commerce Department is poised to reduce anti-dumping tariffs against a host of Italian pasta companies.

Dumping concerns

The Trump administration previously proposed a levy of nearly 92%.

Italian response

The Italian foreign ministry says the drastic reduction indicates a spirit of cooperation on the part of the pasta companies.

Full story

The U.S. Commerce Department slashed expected tariffs on imports of Italian pasta, which the Trump administration previously proposed at 92% due to fears of dumping. The new rate will instead range between roughly 2% and 14% after the Commerce Department concluded the country addressed many initial concerns.

What is dumping?

Dumping is a trade practice where companies send a glut of products to another country — in this case, the U.S. — at much lower prices to undercut the competition.

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Which specific companies are affected?

The Commerce Department earlier this week reduced the proposed duties on more than a dozen Italian pasta exporters, including La Molisana at 2.26% and Garofalo at 13.89%. Eleven other companies — Agritalia; Aldino; Antiche Tradizioni di Gragnano; Barilla; Gruppo Milo; Pastificio Artigiano Cav. Giuseppe Cocco; Pastificio Chiavenna; Pastificio Liguori; Pastificio Sgambaro; Pastificio Tamma and Rummo — will now face an added duty of 9.09%. This is on top of a baseline tariff of 15% that remains in place on many European exports to the U.S.

Some companies had openly worried that the anti-dumping tariffs could freeze them out of the U.S. market. The Italian foreign ministry says the drastic reduction in proposed tariffs shows the U.S. recognizes Italian companies’ willingness to cooperate.

“This post-preliminary analysis indicates that Italian pasta makers have addressed many of Commerce’s concerns raised in the preliminary determination, and reflects Commerce’s commitment to a fair, transparent process,” a Commerce Department spokesperson told The Hill.

What’s next

The anti-dumping tariffs are not final as a U.S. investigation into dumping continues, with official results expected in March.

The anti-dumping order on pasta from Italy dates back to 1996, with the current review analyzing pasta exports from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, a period that preceded the current Trump administration.

“Commerce will continue to engage with interested parties to take into account all information before issuing the final determination,” the commerce spokesperson added.

The major reduction in Italian pasta duties comes just after the Trump administration announced it was putting off previously announced tariffs on furniture and kitchen cabinets until 2027.

Craig Nigrelli

Craig Nigrelli is an anchor and reporter for Straight Arrow News.

Tags: Commerce Department, Donald Trump, Italy, Tariff

Why this story matters

Revised U.S. tariffs on Italian pasta imports reflect an evolving trade policy approach and could affect international business relationships, the cost and availability of popular food products, and ongoing investigations into trade practices.

Trade policy adjustment

The U.S. Commerce Department's reduction of proposed tariffs on Italian pasta highlights shifts in enforcement of trade laws and impacts how international trade disputes are managed.

Global economic relations

Changes in tariffs influence economic relationships between countries, as seen with Italy, and may affect cooperation and negotiations in broader trade matters between the United States and the European Union.

Market impact

Lower tariff rates may affect the availability and pricing of Italian pasta in the U.S., with implications for both consumers and pasta exporters as the anti-dumping investigation continues.

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Context corner

Anti-dumping duties treat underpriced imports as unfair competition. U.S.-Italy pasta disputes have flared periodically, reflecting broader transatlantic trade tensions. Pasta is economically and culturally significant to Italy and an important export product to the U.S. market.

Do the math

Italy’s pasta exports are valued at over €4 billion ($4.7 billion) annually with nearly $800 million going to the U.S. The 13 affected companies represent about 16% of U.S. pasta imports from Italy. Proposed tariffs dropped from 92% to as low as 2 % for some brands.

History lesson

Anti-dumping actions against Italian pasta imports have occurred since the 1990s. These measures usually result in smaller tariffs after negotiation or legal review. Trade disputes between the U.S. and EU have often led to rounds of tariff imposition and reduction.

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Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left frames the initial tariffs as "controversial," de-emphasizing specific financial details while focusing on the reduction.
Media outlets in the center use terms like "embarrassment" and "respite" to link the issue to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's political standing and broadening the scope to include "furniture tariffs."
Media outlets on the right highlight the magnitude of the original threat by detailing high figures like "91.74%" and "107%" aligning with free-market principles.

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Media landscape

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96 total sources

Key points from the Left

The United States has reduced proposed tariffs on Italian pasta makers, according to Italy's foreign ministry, following a reassessment of their activities in the U.S. market.
The tariff for La Molisana is now 2.26%, while Garofalo's rate is 13.89%, following a review by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The full conclusions of the U.S. Review are set to be released on March 11, according to the Italian foreign ministry.
Italy's pasta exports were valued at over 4 billion euros in 2024, with the U.S. Market being worth nearly $800 million, as reported by ISTAT.

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- Proposed Tariffs On Italian Pasta Won’t Happen After All
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Key points from the Center

Italy's foreign ministry said Thursday that the U.S. Rolled back proposed steep tariffs on Italian-made pasta, cutting La Molisana's rate to 2.26% and Garofalo's to 13.89%.
After accusing some firms of unfair pricing, the United States proposed a 92% extra duty on 13 Italian pasta companies in October, with tariffs due from January 2026.
Italy's pasta exports to the U.S. Were about 671 million euros in 2024, roughly 17% of Italy's total pasta exports exceeding 4 billion euros.
The reassessment left many brands with lower duties and Commerce assigned eleven producers a 9.09% import duty, easing pressure on major Italian pasta brands.
Italy said full review conclusions will be released on March 11, and the U.S. Collected more than $200 billion in tariffs in 2025, with support for affected companies in coming weeks.

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See Hide headlines from Center sources 44 sources

Key points from the Right

The U.S. Reduced proposed tariffs on 13 Italian pasta exporters, with La Molisana's duty lowered to 2.26% and Garofalo's to 13.89%.
This decision came after officials noted that Italian pasta makers addressed many concerns raised during the initial investigation.
The remaining 11 companies face a 9.09% tariff, with final rates to be announced by March 12, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Italy's foreign ministry described the outcome as a recognition of the companies' willingness to cooperate and a significant improvement over initial findings.

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