US Lowers Proposed Tariffs on Italian Pasta Imports Following Diplomatic Talks
The United States initially proposed tariffs of 91.74% on pasta imports from 13 Italian producers, which combined with the 15% EU baseline would have exceeded the value of the pasta itself. However, this plan was subsequently wound back, with the Italian foreign ministry describing the move as an acknowledgment of constructive cooperation by Italian companies.
The US had alleged that Italian-made pasta was being sold at less than normal value in the US, a practice known as dumping, and threatened tariffs to counter unfair pricing. Following negotiations, tariff rates were reduced considerably: La Molisana’s rate dropped to 2.26%, while other firms face rates up to 13.98%.
These 13 firms account for only a small share of the total Italian pasta imported into the US, but economists have warned that such tariffs could lead to increased prices for US consumers.
This tariff dispute posed a political challenge for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, especially considering her relationship with former US President Donald Trump. Nonetheless, other tariffs initiated under Trump have recently been softened, including a postponed furniture tariff and a November order exempting certain foods such as coffee, bananas, and beef.
