U.S. backtracks on Italian pasta tariffs after review
Dazi sulla pasta: gli USA fanno marcia indietro (quasi)
Buone notizie per la pasta italiana negli Stati Uniti. Dopo una revisione delle attività commerciali sul mercato USA, Washington ha ridotto drasticamente i dazi punitivi inizialmente previsti su diversi produttori italiani.
Lo scorso autunno, il Dipartimento del Commercio USA aveva annunciato dazi anti-dumping fino al 92%, oltre al 15% già in vigore, accusando alcune aziende di vendere pasta a prezzi “ingiustamente bassi”. Un colpo durissimo per un settore che vale miliardi.
Ora però il quadro cambia: La Molisana scende a un dazio del 2,26%, Garofalo al 13,98%, mentre gli altri produttori coinvolti si attestano attorno al 9%. Un segnale chiaro che la cooperazione e la trasparenza hanno funzionato.
Per Roma è anche una boccata d’ossigeno politica: la vicenda aveva creato imbarazzo al governo di Giorgia Meloni, soprattutto considerando i rapporti con Donald Trump. Con esportazioni di pasta oltre i 4 miliardi di euro e un mercato USA da quasi 800 milioni, la partita resta strategica. Le conclusioni finali arriveranno l’11 marzo.
U.S. backtracks on Italian pasta tariffs after review
Good news for Italian pasta makers in the United States. After a formal review, Washington has sharply reduced the proposed punitive tariffs that had threatened one of Italy’s most iconic export sectors.
Last autumn, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced anti-dumping duties of up to 92%, on top of the existing 15% tariff, accusing some Italian producers of selling pasta at unfairly low prices. The move sparked strong reactions in Italy and across Europe.
Following the reassessment, the picture has changed significantly: La Molisana will now face a tariff of just 2.26%, Garofalo 13.98%, while the remaining producers are set at around 9%. According to Rome, this reflects U.S. authorities acknowledging the companies’ willingness to cooperate.
The dispute had also been politically sensitive for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had hoped strong ties with Donald Trump would prevent escalation. Italian pasta exports exceed €4 billion annually, with the U.S. market worth nearly $800 million, according to ISTAT. Final conclusions are expected on March 11.
Incredible how much the initial 92% tariff felt like pure theater compared to the final numbers. What stood out to me is how transparency from the Italian producers actually shifted US Commerce's stance, which almost never happens in these trade disputes. I've seen similiar pattterns in other ag-export cases where companies that open their books early tend to dodge the real punitive rates. The La Molisana result at 2.26% basically proves Washington knew the dumping claims were overstated from the start.