The United States has significantly reduced proposed new import duties on several Italian pasta manufacturers following a preliminary review of anti-dumping allegations, Italy’s foreign ministry said.
The reassessment by the U.S. Department of Commerce found that Italian exporters had addressed many of the concerns raised in an earlier analysis, leading to sharply lower tariff rates for key producers.
Last October, U.S. authorities announced plans to impose additional duties of up to 92% on pasta imported from 13 Italian companies, on top of an existing 15% tariff applied to most European Union goods. Two brands, La Molisana and Garofalo, were singled out at the time for allegedly selling pasta in the U.S. market at unfairly low prices.
Following the updated review, the proposed tariff on La Molisana was reduced to 2.26%, while Garofalo’s rate was set at 13.98%, according to Italy’s foreign ministry. The remaining 11 companies involved in the case, which were not individually examined, would face a uniform duty of 9.09%.
Italy’s foreign ministry described the revised figures as a sign that U.S. authorities acknowledged the cooperation of Italian producers during the review process. A U.S. Commerce Department official said Washington remained committed to a fair and transparent investigation and would continue to engage with all parties before issuing a final ruling.
The final determination is currently scheduled for March 12, though it could be delayed by up to two months. Until that process is completed, no changes will be made to existing duties.
The companies under review account for roughly 16% of Italian pasta exports to the U.S., a key market for the sector. Italian pasta exports globally were valued at more than 4 billion euros in 2024, with shipments to the United States alone approaching $800 million.
The proposed tariffs had posed a political challenge for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has sought to leverage close relations with U.S. President Donald Trump to protect Italian exporters from additional trade barriers.
Industry representatives welcomed the reduction in proposed duties, saying it confirmed the strength of Italy’s trade relationship with the United States and the competitiveness of Italian food producers.
