DoC Proposes 107% Tariff on Italian Pasta Imports, Sparking Market Concerns
The US Department of Commerce (DoC) has recommended imposing a 107% tariff on Italian pasta imports, with 92% of this tariff newly proposed and 15% stemming from the existing Trump-era EU tariff. Italy represents about $770 million annually in US pasta sales, with Barilla holding a 34% market share in the US. While most pasta brands are produced domestically—which may mitigate shortages—Italian producers could withdraw from the US market as early as January. This raises concerns about gaps in availability, particularly for some brands including premium gluten-free options such as Rummo.
US pasta manufacturers are largely domestic, so a widespread shortage is considered unlikely, but consumers may face higher prices on imported and premium gluten-free varieties. Sfoglini founder Scott Ketchum noted that US producers might raise their prices as a business response; his brand imports organic wheat from Italy and already encounters tariffs on that ingredient.
Consumer reactions have included panic buying, with reports of purchases like $100 worth of Rummo pasta at Wegmans, as well as worry among gluten-free shoppers. Some social media commentary has framed the tariff as a cultural attack on Italian culinary tradition.
Studies by the Yale Budget Lab estimate that these tariffs could add approximately $2,400 per year to household costs. This comes amid already rising grocery prices and delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits caused by a government shutdown. The DoC asserts that the tariffs are intended to address unfair pricing practices by Italian producers and to protect domestic producers by influencing import prices.
