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Italy has appealed to Washington and the European Commission in an attempt to dissuade the United States from imposing a punitive tariff on pasta imports, a deeply unpopular measure among producers.

In early September, the US Department of Commerce announced plans to impose provisional anti-dumping duties of over 91% on pasta from January 2026, on top of the 15% already in place.

The decision was part of an investigation into “dumping”: alleged commercial practices by certain brands involving exports to the US at prices below market value.

Italy’s Foreign Ministry said it was “working closely with the companies involved and in consultation with the European Commission to ensure that the US department reviews the provisional duties imposed on our companies”.

The Italian Embassy in Washington has also intervened to “assist companies in asserting their rights”, according to a statement.

The same source underlined the “full willingness of our producers to co-operate with the ongoing investigation”.

The prospect of a surcharge has provoked sharp criticism on the peninsula.

Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida denounced “a hyper-protectionist mechanism against our pasta producers”.

The country’s largest agricultural association Coldiretti meanwhile called the decision a “fatal blow”.

These “unacceptable and abusive” measures are “linked to [Donald] Trump’s plan to relocate production to the US”, the association said, calling on the EU and Rome to “protect a true symbol of the Mediterranean diet”.

The US market holds strategic importance for Italian producers, with an estimated value of nearly €671 million in 2024, according to Coldiretti, accounting for nearly 17% of exports.

-Agence France-Presse