US Lowers Proposed Tariffs On Several Italian Pasta Brands

ROME, Jan 1 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The United States (US) has revised downward proposed new tariffs on several brands of Italian pasta, Italy's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday, reported Xinhua.

In a statement, the ministry said the US Department of Commerce had issued preliminary assessments on anti-dumping duties for the products ahead of the official conclusion of an anti-dumping investigation expected on March 11.

"The assessments significantly reduce the provisional rates set on Sept 4, 2025," the ministry said. It noted that tariffs on Italian producer La Molisana were lowered from 91.74 per cent to 2.26 per cent, those on Garofalo to 13.98 per cent, and those on the remaining 11 non-sampled producers to 9.09 per cent.

The proposed duties would have taken effect in addition to existing US tariffs of 15 per cent on most products imported from European Union (EU) countries.

On September 4 last year, US authorities announced provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 91.74 per cent on certain Italian pasta producers, scheduled for January 2026, bringing total tariffs to a maximum of 107 per cent.

Coldiretti and Filiera Italia, two Italian organisations promoting and protecting Italian products in foreign markets, said on stock market website Borsa Italiana on Thursday that the previously announced high tariffs would have doubled the cost of Italian pasta for US households, creating opportunities for counterfeit products and undermining the quality of genuine Made-in-Italy goods.

Earlier this year, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said during a Cabinet meeting that increases in US tariffs would have significantly affected the Italian economy, describing the decision as "wrong", though not overwhelming for domestic companies, according to local media.

Italian pasta exports were valued at more than €4 billion (US$4.6 billion) in 2024, according to estimates by the Italian Food Union based on data from the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA