The U.S. government has significantly reduced proposed tariffs on Italian pasta, by scaling back duties that could have nearly doubled prices for American consumers.
Initially, the Trump administration had threatened tariffs of up to 92% on 13 Italian pasta producers, including Barilla, La Molisana, and Pastificio Lucio Garofalo, citing alleged “unfairly low” pricing. Italy exports around $770m (€657m) worth of pasta to the U.S. annually.
On Thursday, January 1st, Italy’s government announced that the Department of Commerce (DoC) had revised the proposed tariffs to a range of 2% to 14%, depending on the company. La Molisana would face a 2.26% duty, Garofalo about 14%, and the other 11 producers roughly 9.09%. These would be added to the existing 15% tariff on most European Union goods entering the US.
The DoC said it had not yet made a final decision, with results expected on 12 March. Italian officials welcomed the reduction as a sign of recognition of their companies’ cooperation. The move follows a recent delay in tariff hikes on U.S. imports of kitchen cabinets, vanities and upholstered furniture, signalling ongoing negotiations with trade partners.
Last year, the Brussels Parliament was urged to take action against the food on sale there under the dubious label “Italian-style.” Such claims were later strengthened by UNESCO’s recognition of Italian cuisine as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.