U.S. Reduces Proposed Tariffs on Italian Pasta Imports

Fri Jan 02 2026 19:13:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Biden administration has significantly cut proposed tariff rates on Italian pasta imports from nearly 92% to much lower levels, alleviating potential financial strain on U.S. consumers and Italian producers.

In a surprising turn of events, the U.S. government has decided to reduce the proposed tariffs on Italian pasta imports, initially set to rise to nearly 92% due to allegations of unfair pricing practices by Italian producers. The new rates are now considerably lower, sparing American consumers from drastic price increases. The Italian foreign ministry welcomed this development, highlighting the collaboration between the U.S. and Italian companies. This decision also reflects a broader trend in the Biden administration to ease certain tariffs imposed by the previous administration that could negatively affect consumer prices.

U.S. Reduces Proposed Tariffs on Italian Pasta Imports

Italian pasta is set to be spared from high-level U.S. tariffs previously threatened against 13 producers. The Trump administration had proposed tariffs that could have taxed American importers at a rate greater than the value of the actual pasta, potentially leading to significant price hikes for U.S. consumers.

However, on Thursday, the Italian foreign ministry announced that the proposed tariff rates had been dramatically reduced. The U.S. indicated that many concerns expressed regarding the pricing practices of the 13 firms had been addressed, leading to a reconsideration of the tariff rates.

The U.S. Commerce Department was initially planning to impose a staggering tariff rate of 91.74% on pasta imports from these Italian producers, based on allegations that the products were being sold at an unfairly low price, a practice referred to as 'dumping'. This drastic tariff would have resulted in a cumulative tax rate exceeding 100%, coupled with the standard 15% tariff on imports from the European Union, escalating prices significantly.

In acknowledgment of the constructive engagement from Italian companies, the Italian foreign ministry reported that the revised tariffs now range from as low as 2.26% for La Molisana to up to 13.98% for others.

This development is also politically significant for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has maintained a cooperative relationship with the Trump administration. The new tariff rates are seen as a victory for Italian pasta makers, contributing to market stability and preventing undue price increases for American consumers.

The decision reflects ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to reassess tariffs inherited from the previous administration, aiming to minimize cost burdens on consumers across various sectors.