The end of the “spaghetti war”. The US is withdrawing from prohibitive tariffs

The specter of gigantic increases in pasta prices in the United States and a huge blow to Italian exporters has been averted. As reported by CNN, the US Department of Commerce has decided to drastically reduce the planned tariffs on Italian pasta, which in the original version were supposed to reach a total of up to 107%. This decision brings relief to both producers from the Italian Peninsula and American consumers.

A twist in the new year

In October 2025, the situation looked dramatic. The American administration, following a complaint from two local producers, accused Italian companies of the so-called dumping, i.e. selling goods in the USA at prices lower than market prices. The Department of Commerce's preliminary findings assumed the imposition of an additional duty of nearly 92%. After adding the already existing 15% tariff on EU goods, Italian pasta would be subject to a total tax of as much as 107%.

However, on January 1, 2026, just after the start of the new year, the Department of Commerce announced a revision of these rates. According to CNN, citing US officials and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the new proposals are much milder.

Instead of 92 percent – ​​just a fraction

The anti-dumping investigation concerned 13 Italian producers. US authorities initially recognized leading brands such as La Molisana and Pastificio Lucio Garofalofor “uncooperation” and imposed penalty rates on them. After the data was re-analyzed and the documentation completed by the Italians, the rates changed dramatically:

• the duty for La Molisana dropped from the proposed 91.74% to just 2.26%.

• Garofalo's rate was reduced to 13.98%.

• the remaining producers under investigation will pay a duty of around 9%.

The standard EU customs duty (15%) must still be added to these values, but the final burden will be many times lower than the previously threatened doubling of the price of the product on the shelf.

The USA appreciated the willingness of Italian companies to cooperate

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Washington's decision, considering it proof that the American authorities appreciated the readiness of Italian companies to cooperate. Agricultural organization Coldiretti, which previously warned that prohibitive tariffs could “wipe” Italian products from the U.S. market and open the door to pasta-like products, also announced success.

This is also great news for American al dente lovers – experts predicted that with 100 percent tariffs original Italian pasta would become a luxury item or disappear from stores altogether. Italy exports pasta to the US worth nearly 800 million dollars per year.

The final decision on the level of tariffs is expected to be made on March 12, 2026, but the current turn suggests that the trade conflict between Rome and Washington has largely been alleviated.

prepared by COGS

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