Italian pasta faces the prospect of being hit with triple-digit tariffs of more than 100% from the United States. Even though Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy has maintained a friendly relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, she has not been able to avoid the tariffs.
On the 3rd (local time), the Washington Post (WP) reported, "If this issue is not resolved within the next few weeks due to the U.S. government shutdown (temporary stoppage of operations), all products produced by 13 of Italy's largest pasta exporters will be subject to a high tariff of 91.74%," adding, "On top of that, the 15% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on European Union products will be added."
Earlier, on Sept. 4, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced it would provisionally impose an anti-dumping tariff of 91.74% on 13 Italian pasta brands. The move stems from a request in July last year by two U.S. pasta manufacturers for a dumping investigation into Italian exporters for the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
The Commerce Department imposed an anti-dumping tariff, saying Pasta Garofalo and La Molisana, Italy's largest pasta exporters, failed to submit sufficient data related to the dumping allegations. In a notice on its website, the department explained, "During the review period, we made a preliminary determination that these two companies sold certain Italian pasta at prices below normal value."
Moreover, the Commerce Department decided to apply the same sanctions not only to these two companies but also to 11 other Italian pasta manufacturers. Italy exported about 700 million euros (about 1.16 trillion won) worth of pasta to the United States last year, so the move is expected to deliver a significant blow to Italy's pasta industry.
This is not the first time Italian pasta companies have faced sanctions. In 1996, U.S. pasta manufacturers also raised dumping suspicions, saying Italian products were being sold locally at lower prices than domestic products. There have been cases in the past where Italian pasta companies were hit with high punitive tariffs, but experts note it is the first time so many companies have been targeted at once.
Italian companies reacted immediately. Luigi Scordamaglia, head of Filiera Italia, an Italian food industry group, said that if the new tariffs are finalized, about 50% of Italian pasta exported to the United States would be affected. He added that 90% of high-priced premium products would be hit.
Cosimo Rummo, CEO of Pasta Rummo, one of the sanctioned corporations, said, "Why does the United States not want imports of Italian products?" and criticized, "These tariffs are inappropriate. Italy and the United States are like brother countries. In the end, it is merely a pretext to block the entry of Italian products."
Some say the burden will ultimately fall on U.S. consumers. Massimo Mena, CEO of Pasta Garofalo, a company subject to the tariffs, said, "This is effectively a move to push us out of the market," adding, "To keep selling in the United States, we have no choice but to double prices from current levels." Garofalo posts annual sales of $50 million (about 72 billion won) in the United States.
The Italian government also moved to respond. Minister Adolfo Urso of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) recently said, "Pasta is the pride of Italian cuisine," adding that the government is currently proceeding with procedures to respond to the tariffs. According to WP, the prime minister's office said local media reported that Italian and European Union (EU) authorities are in talks with the U.S. side over the matter.