On Thursday, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce had significantly reduced the proposed anti-dumping tariffs on 13 Italian pasta producers after a reassessment. The tariffs were lowered from a maximum of 92% to a minimum of 2.26%. Originally, these tariffs were planned to be imposed on top of the existing 15% tariff on most European Union imports, set to take effect in January 2026.
According to reports from the New York Post, the U.S. Department of Commerce had previously accused Italian producers including Barilla, La Molisana, and Pastificio Lucio Garofalo of unfairly selling products at low prices, damaging the interests of American manufacturers.
The preliminary review revealed that La Molisana and Garofalo, two major exporters, were designated as mandatory respondents. Initially, the U.S. Department of Commerce had planned to apply high tariffs uniformly to the 13 companies. However, after a preliminary analysis, it was acknowledged that Italian pasta producers had addressed many of the concerns, resulting in tariffs of 2.26% for La Molisana and 13.98% for Garofalo.
The remaining 11 producers that were not individually examined, including Agritalia, Aldino, Antiche Tradizioni Di Gragnano, Gruppo Milo, Pastificio Artigiano Cav. Giuseppe Cocco, Pastificio Chiavenna, Pastificio Liguori, Pastificio Sgambaro, Pastificio Tamma, and Rummo, are facing revised tariffs of 9.09%.
The complete findings of the U.S. review are expected to be released in March, with the final decision possibly announced on March 16 or extended by 60 days.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release, “The recalculated tariffs demonstrate that the U.S. side acknowledges our companies’ constructive willingness to cooperate. This also reflects the effectiveness of the support provided by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government from the beginning. We will continue to assist affected companies in the coming weeks.”
This tariff adjustment alleviates concerns of sharp price increases for Italian pasta that American consumers might have faced, and it also mitigates the risk of some Italian producers potentially ceasing supply to U.S. retailers. Experts note that if the original high tariffs had been implemented, imported Italian pasta on American store shelves could have significantly decreased or soared in price.
The proposed high tariffs had made Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni feel embarrassed, as she had hoped her close relationship with former U.S. President Trump would shield Italian businesses from additional tariffs.
The earlier threat of high tariffs had also alarmed the Little Italy neighborhood in the Bronx, where surrounding shops on Arthur Avenue sell Italian imported goods.
Anthony Ruscigno, a deli manager, expressed that the implementation of high tariffs would significantly harm his business, as his store sells at least four affected brands.
According to data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), in 2024, Italy exported Italian pasta worth over $4.7 billion globally, with the U.S. market accounting for approximately $800 million.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows that after the new tariffs were implemented in 2025, the U.S. collected over $200 billion in tariffs.
Previously, the Trump administration had reduced or postponed a series of tariffs on imported goods, including coffee, bananas, furniture, and kitchen cabinets.