WASHINGTON, D.C., November 11, 2025: The United States Department of Commerce has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties on pasta imported from Italy that could raise total tariffs to more than 100 percent, significantly impacting one of the largest categories of Italian food exports to the U.S. market. According to the Department’s findings, Italian producers have been selling pasta in the United States at prices below fair market value.
The investigation covers 13 companies, including major exporters such as La Molisana and Pasta Garofalo, during the review period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The preliminary rate of 91.74 percent is set to apply to affected shipments, in addition to the existing 15 percent tariff already in place on European Union goods, bringing the total potential duty to approximately 106.74 percent.
The measure follows a standard trade remedy process under U.S. law and will remain in effect pending a final determination by the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission. The final decision is expected by early 2026. If upheld, the duties would be applied retroactively to imports arriving within 90 days before the preliminary decision, a move that could further increase costs for importers.
Italian industry faces pressure amid steep tariff proposals
Italian pasta exports to the United States account for roughly half of Italy’s total pasta exports outside the European Union, valued at around $700 million annually. The proposed tariff increases have raised concerns within Italy’s food manufacturing sector, where producers say the duties could severely restrict access to one of their most profitable export destinations. Companies have begun reviewing logistics and pricing structures in anticipation of potential disruptions to supply chains serving American distributors and retailers.
In Rome, the Italian government has expressed opposition to the U.S. action, calling the preliminary findings disproportionate and inconsistent with international trade norms. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration has urged Washington to reconsider the decision, while the European Commission has stated that it is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to evaluate whether the duties conform to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
U.S. pasta industry cites unfair competition claims
U.S. officials have maintained that the process adheres to established anti-dumping procedures designed to protect domestic producers from unfair trade practices. The investigation was launched in response to a petition by U.S. pasta manufacturers who argued that Italian imports were being sold at prices that undercut American products and harmed local industry profitability. The preliminary determination does not immediately impose the full tariff burden but sets the stage for potential enforcement pending the outcome of the final review.
Italian producers named in the investigation will have the opportunity to submit additional data or request a reassessment before the final ruling is issued. If confirmed, the new duties would take effect in January 2026 and remain in place for five years unless overturned or modified through a future review. The case is being closely watched by both U.S. importers and European trade authorities, given its potential to reshape transatlantic food trade flows at a time of heightened global trade scrutiny.
The pasta tariff dispute underscores a broader tightening of U.S. trade enforcement under existing law, as authorities continue to apply measures aimed at ensuring compliance with domestic pricing and subsidy regulations. For U.S. consumers, the decision could result in higher retail prices for imported Italian pasta brands, while Italian exporters face the prospect of reduced competitiveness in one of their largest overseas markets. – By EuroWire News Desk.