Italy says US has sharply cut proposed pasta tariffs after a review

Rome: Italy's foreign ​ministry said on Thursday the United States had sharply lowered proposed duties on several Italian pasta makers following a reassessment ​of their US activities.

In October, the United States said ‌that 13 Italian pasta companies would face ⁠an extra 92 per cent ‌duty - on top of the regular 15 per cent rate on most EU imports - from January 2026, accusing two producers in particular, La Molisana and Garofalo, of selling pasta at unfairly ​low prices.

However, after a review, the US Department of Commerce cut the tariff for La Molisana to 2.26 per cent, while Garofalo's rate was set ‌at ‌13.98 per cent, the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The remaining 11 producers, which ⁠were not individually examined in the review, face a tariff of 9.09 per cent.

"The recalculation of the duties is a sign that US authorities ⁠recognise our companies' constructive willingness ⁠to cooperate," the foreign ministry said.

It added that ‌the full conclusions of the US ‌review would be released on March 11, adding that the ministry would continue to provide help to the companies affected ‍in the coming weeks.

The threatened pasta tariffs had been an embarrassment to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had hoped that her close ties with US President Donald Trump would shield Italian companies from any additional tariffs.

Italy's total pasta exports were worth over 4 billion euros (4.7 billion dollars) in ​2024, according to data ‌from national statistics agency ISTAT. The US market was worth almost 800 million dollars to Italian firms.