US Department of Commerce Announces 91.74% Tariff on Italian Pasta in September
Total Tariff Rate to Reach 106.74% with Existing 15% Tariff
Italy Exports Pasta Worth Over 1 Trillion Won to the US Annually
Italian Pasta Prices in the US Expected to More Than Double
Pasta Industry: "25% of Exports and 50,000 Jobs at Risk"
The Italian Food Federation is demanding the withdrawal of the tariff bomb in the United States. Promotional photo of pasta on the Italian Food Federation website.
As the United States moves to impose tariffs of over 100% on Italian pasta, tension is rising across the European food industry.
US Department of Commerce Imposes 91.74% Anti-Dumping Tariff on 13 Italian Pasta Brands
Previously, on September 4, the US Department of Commerce announced a provisional anti-dumping tariff of 91.74% on 13 Italian pasta brands. If this measure is finalized, it will take effect from January 2026, and combined with the existing 15% general tariff on products from the European Union, the total tariff rate will reach 106.74%.
Last year, Italy exported approximately 700 million euros (about 1.1611 trillion won) worth of pasta to the United States. If the tariffs become a reality, the Italian pasta industry, one of the country's key export sectors, will face an effective halt in exports.
This issue initially went largely unnoticed for a month, but as the Italian industrial sector experienced significant repercussions, it has recently attracted rapid attention, according to Euronews on the 16th (local time). Margherita Mastromauro, president of the Italian Food Federation (UIF), stated in an interview with Euronews, "This measure is a clear act of protectionism," adding, "At this level of tariffs, most companies will have no other choice but to withdraw from the US market."
This is not the first time there has been controversy over US tariffs on Italian pasta. It began in 1996 when US pasta manufacturers raised 'dumping' allegations, claiming that Italian products were being sold at lower prices than domestic products in the local market. Although the two countries have held several rounds of negotiations since then, the tariff rate has never exceeded 90% as it does now. Since returning to office, President Trump has pledged to correct "unfair trade practices" and has announced high tariffs in various sectors, including steel, automobiles, and agricultural products. This latest measure is seen as part of that broader effort, with analysts noting that trade pressure on the European Union is once again intensifying.
Anti-Dumping Disputes in the 1990s, But First Time for Ultra-High Tariffs Above 90%
The Italian government responded immediately. Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida criticized the move as "excessive protectionism targeting Italian industry," while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially submitted its opposition as an 'interested party' in the US Department of Commerce's investigation. The European Commission is also closely monitoring the situation and preparing a response.
On September 13 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the Egypt Gaza Summit. Photo by AP Yonhap News
Italy is the world's largest exporter of pasta. About 25% of its total pasta exports go to the US market, and the industry employs as many as 50,000 people. If the tariffs are finalized, the profitability of small and medium-sized food companies will deteriorate rapidly, and there will be a ripple effect on the prices of Italian agricultural products. The International Food Trade Institute (IFI) analyzed that "the price of Italian pasta in the US is likely to nearly double," adding, "This could also impact consumer prices."
Some are questioning why Italy has become a tariff target, despite the friendly relationship between President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. A European diplomatic source told Euronews, "This measure may be the result of a power struggle between the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce within the US administration." Since President Trump's return to power, the two agencies have been competing for leadership, and in that process, the symbolic Italian product 'pasta' may have been targeted as a result.
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