Potential 107% Duty Could Impact Italian Pasta Imports to the U.S.

The U.S. Commerce Department is considering a new 92% antidumping duty on pasta imports from 13 Italian manufacturers, potentially raising the total tariff on Italian-made pasta to 107% when combined with existing EU import taxes.

The proposed duty stems from a government investigation that found some Italian brands, including La Molisana and Pastificio Lucio Garofalo, were selling pasta in the U.S. below market prices. If enacted, the substantial increase in cost could lead to limited availability of popular Italian pasta brands on American shelves, impacting a $684 million import market from Italy last year, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

A White House spokesperson stated that Italian pasta is not “disappearing” and emphasized the duty is still a proposal subject to review. “The pasta makers still have several months to continue participating in this review before this preliminary finding becomes finalized,” the spokesperson said. However, some Italian companies are reportedly preparing to withdraw from the U.S. market as early as January. This dispute echoes long-standing concerns from American pasta makers who allege unfair pricing practices by their Italian competitors; you can learn more about pasta production and trade from the USDA.

The Commerce Department initiated the investigation in the mid-1990s, citing a failure by the Italian companies to fully comply with data requests. Officials have not provided a firm date for when the duties might take effect, but the matter remains under review.