Your Sunday dinner could soon cost a lot more if President Trump follows through on a proposed 107% tariff on Italian pasta imports.
Following an anti-dumping investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department, Italian pasta imports are facing an additional 91.74% tariff on top of the existing 15% tariff on imported goods from the European Union, resulting in an effective rate of roughly 107%.
But, what is dumping? According to the World Trade Organization, dumping is a form of predatory price manipulation where an exported product is sold in the importing country at a lesser cost than the price of that same product in the exporting country. The objective of dumping is to grow market share in a foreign market by pricing out competitors.
The Wall Street Journal reported that this isn’t the first time Italian pasta exporters have been accused of dumping. However, where the current situation differs is in tariffs, which are higher now than the historical tariff on EU products.
The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating 13 of Italy’s largest exporters of pasta following the alleged dumping scheme. The two biggest exporters—Pasta Garofalo and La Molisana—are a part of this investigation. Other companies facing the tariff include Antiche Tradizioni Di Gragnano, Pastificio Tamma, Barilla, Agritalia and eight others.
In September, The Commerce Department released a report, claiming that both Pasta Garofalo and La Molisana did not provide the requested information, deeming the brans “uncooperative.” Both brands deny the accusations. Now, multiple Italian brand executives are threatening to pull their products off of American shelves if the federal government follows through with the 107% tariff, a tax that La Molisana’s CEO Giussepe Ferro told The Wall Street Journal is not feasible.
Other executives pushed back, too. Rummo Pasta CEO called the move “an excuse to block imports.”
The proposed tariff could double the cost of a plate of pasta for American consumers. Critics argue it is an attempt to shift pasta production to the U.S., effectively cutting off a major portion of trade between Italy and America. If successful, it could damage the relationship between the two countries; and the relationship between two allies in President Trump and Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni, who historically have a strong relationship.
What does this look like, exactly? Well, if the tariff is placed into effect as proposed, it means that a 16oz package of La Molisana, which sells for $10.99 at Walmart, could soon cost upwards of $20, if not removed from shelves entirely.
As the U.S. weighs these unprecedented tariffs, American shoppers may soon face higher prices at the grocery store and strained relations with one of its closest European allies.
Which Pasta Brands Are Affected?
- Agritalia
- Aldino
- Antiche Tradizioni Di Gragnano
- Barilla
- Gruppo Milo
- La Molisana
- Pasta Garofalo
- Pastificio Artigiano Cav. Giuseppe Cocco
- Pastificio Chiavenna
- Pastificio Liguori
- Pastificio Sgambaro
- Pastificio Tamma
- Rummo
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
