Italy has said the United States had given several Italian pasta brands a break from plans to slap hefty anti-dumping duties on exports.
US President Donald Trump’s administration had announced plans in September to impose provisional duties of more than 91 percent on pasta from January 1st, on top of the 15 percent already in place.
The decision was part of an investigation into allegations that companies were “dumping” their products, or exporting them at prices below market value.
In a decision taken several months before the March 11 conclusion of its investigation, the US Commerce Department lowered its planned tariffs for “certain Italian pasta brands” to levels “far below” what had been announced, the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The new duties will be 2.3 percent for the La Molisana brand, 14 percent for the Garofalo brand and 9.1 percent for 11 other pasta producers, it said.
“The redefining of these tariff rates is a testament to the US authorities’ recognition of our companies’ effective will to cooperate,” it added.
Italy had announced in October that it was working with the United States and European Commission to find a solution to the pasta spat.
The US market is key for Italian pasta producers: it generated an estimated value of 671 million euros ($788 million) in 2024, around 17 percent of total exports, according to farm industry association Coldiretti.
Laine Pecora
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