U.S. Reduces Proposed Tariffs on Italian Pasta Imports

"...outraged Italian companies and industry groups say they have never seen such stratospherically high duties applied across the board..."

"...They call the duties — prompted by a complaint from two U.S. manufacturers — a trade barrier aimed at shutting them out of the lucrative American market so that U.S. pasta makers can seize additional market share..."

"...The new duties would hit roughly 50 percent of Italy’s $780 million in pasta exports to the United States, including 90 percent of its more expensive premium pastas..."

"...“Why don’t they want Italian products to enter America?” asked Cosimo Rummo, chief executive of Pasta Rummo, one of the penalized companies. “I believe this is totally inappropriate, because Italy and America are brothers. It is an excuse not to let Italian products in.”..."

"...The $6.2 billion U.S. pasta market is dominated by domestic manufacturers — although several, including Barilla, are headquartered in Italy. Exports direct from Italy have surged in recent years and now make up roughly 12 percent of the U.S. market. Companies cite the rise of American foodie culture, and a growing affinity for all things Italian, such as Tuscan trips and designer goods...."

"...This recent success is one reason companies say the tariff threat stings harder...."

"...“We would have to double the price” to be able to keep selling in the U.S., said Massimo Menna, chief executive of Pasta Garofalo, one of the companies targeted by the duties. “It effectively knocks us out of the game.” Pasta Garofalo does $50 million in annual sales in the United States...."

"...Italian producers of prosecco, wine and cheese have, for months, bemoaned the blanket 15 percent tariff on E.U. goods...."

"...Meloni’s office has told the local news media that Italian and E.U. officials are engaging the U.S. over the issue...."

"...Italian companies say they feel particularly stung because the fine is based not on hard evidence, but rather a lack of data...."

"...The probe into alleged dumping stems from a request made in July 2024 by two U.S. pasta manufacturers — 8th Avenue Food & Provisions and Winland Foods — for a review of Italian exporters for sales between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. To assess the charges, the Commerce Department requested information from the two largest Italian exporters during that period, Pasta Garofalo and La Molisana. Both companies deny the allegations...."

"...According to a letter issued by the Commerce Department in late August announcing the new tariffs, the two companies failed to provide enough data to gauge whether they were dumping...."

"...The Commerce Department said that the answers provided were “inconsistent and unclear.” It said one company had failed to provide requested data on home market sales, U.S. market sales and other price discrepancies despite repeated requests, while the other had missing invoices and missing details on costs, and had failed to provide English translations, among other problems...."

"...As a result, the department opted to slap blanket penalties not only on the two companies in the probe, but also on 11 other Italian pasta makers that were named by the American manufactures, or had voluntarily submitted their names for review...."

"...A U.S. official familiar with the case said such reviews occur almost annually, and they are seen as routine and technical, calling antidumping probes “separate” from Trump’s tariff policies. The high rate and broad application of the tariff this time, the official said, was the result of the failure of the two companies selected for review to comply with requests for data “to the best of their ability.”..."

"...The official called the 91.74 percent tariff a “preliminary” rate that will be reviewed over the next two to four months before being applied...."

"...“This is a preliminary determination of an administrative review, not a final determination,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal thinking. “There has been no increase in rates or cash deposits, and parties still have the opportunity to further participate in the review.”..."