The U.S. Commerce Department has initiated a review that could impose a staggering 107 percent tariff on Italian pasta, raising significant concerns among food producers and consumers alike. This move is part of a broader anti-dumping investigation, which alleges that Italian pasta makers have sold their products in the U.S. at prices below market value, thereby undercutting local competition. The proposed tariffs come on top of the existing 15 percent tariff established during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The news has reverberated across Italy, where pasta is not just a staple food but a cultural icon. Thirteen Italian producers would be affected by this potential duty, which many fear could decimate sales in their second-largest export market. The United States accounts for approximately 15 percent of Italy’s €7.12 billion pasta exports, making it Italy’s largest market after Germany, according to the farmers’ association Coldiretti.
Impact on Producers and Consumers
Local importers are grappling with the implications of these tariffs. Sal Auriemma, owner of Claudio Specialty Food in Philadelphia, expressed disbelief, stating, “Pasta is a pretty small sector to pick on. I mean, there’s a lot bigger things to pick on.” He emphasized the fundamental role pasta plays in diets, highlighting that it should remain untouchable in trade disputes.
Italian politicians and industry leaders have rallied against the proposed tariffs. Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, announced in mid-October that the government is actively collaborating with the European Commission and supporting legal actions to contest the sanctions. Maros Sefcovic, the EU Trade Commissioner, labeled the combined 107 percent levy as “unacceptable,” stressing that there is insufficient evidence to support the U.S. claims.
According to Margherita Mastromauro, president of the pasta makers sector within Unione Italiana Food, the price of Italian pasta in the U.S. remains significantly higher than that of American-made alternatives, undermining any assertions of dumping. She warned that these tariffs could be fatal for small- and medium-sized producers, while Lucio Miranda, president of consultancy group Export USA, echoed her sentiments, stating, “A duty rate of 107 percent would definitely kill this flow of export.”
Investigation and Response
The investigation began in 2024 after complaints from 8th Avenue Food and Provisions, which owns the pasta brand Ronzoni, and Illinois-based Winland Foods, which produces multiple brands including Prince and Mueller’s. The review singled out La Molisana and Garofalo, Italy’s two largest pasta exporters, as primary respondents. The U.S. Commerce Department indicated that any sales price below the cost of production or market price in Italy would be classified as dumping.
However, the department claimed that these companies failed to provide accurate information during the review process. A White House spokesperson stated, “After they screwed up their initial responses, the Commerce Department explained to them what the problems were and asked them to fix those problems; they didn’t.” The sanctions would apply not only to future imports but also retroactively to the 12 months ending June 2024, affecting an estimated 16 percent of total Italian pasta imports.
In Benevento, Italy, a town known for its pasta production, Cosimo Rummo, CEO of Pasta Rummo, expressed outrage over the proposed tariffs, which jeopardize his company’s €20 million (approximately $36 million) annual exports to the U.S. Rummo criticized the tariffs as “completely senseless,” questioning how consumers would react to pasta priced similarly to premium wines.
As the transatlantic trade tensions escalate, American retailers like Robert Tramonte of The Italian Store in Arlington, Virginia, are looking for reassurances. He noted that his suppliers have sufficient inventory to maintain stable prices for now. Tramonte’s customers depend on high-quality Italian products, and he stressed the importance of authentic Italian pasta, stating, “They’ve tried to make Italian products and use the same ingredients, but the source wasn’t Italy. And they just didn’t taste the same.”
The final decision regarding the tariffs is set for January 2, 2024, although it could be postponed by an additional 60 days. As negotiations continue, the future of Italian pasta exports hangs in the balance, with significant implications for both producers in Italy and consumers in the U.S.
