US cuts tariffs on Italian pasta brands

The United States Department of Commerce has today published the final decision in the case regarding U.S. tariffs on 13 Italian pasta brands accused of alleged export practices to the United States at prices lower than market value (“dumping”).

The decision significantly revises the level of the provisional anti-dumping duties announced on September 4, CE Report quotes ANSA.

Italy’s Foreign Ministry (the Farnesina) announced the outcome. The pasta producer Garofalo sees its anti-dumping margin reduced to 7%, compared with 91.7% in the preliminary decision last September and 13.89% in the post-preliminary decision of December 31.

La Molisana will face an anti-dumping duty of 2.65%, compared with 91.7% in September’s preliminary decision and 2.26% on December 31.

For the other 11 companies involved in the procedure, the anti-dumping duty is set at 5.21%, compared with 91.7% in September and 9.09% in the December 31 update.

According to the Italian Foreign Ministry, the positive outcome of the investigation followed prompt action by the Italian government and the European Commission in support of the Italian pasta producers involved. They submitted defensive documents and the companies cooperated with U.S. authorities by providing additional documentation.

“There were those who sounded the alarm and those who instead remained calm and worked to solve the problem. We immediately got to work with our embassy in Washington, led by Marco Peronaci, and with our colleagues in the government to overturn what appeared from the start to be an unjustified measure,” said Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida.

“The significant reduction of tariffs on pasta does justice to our companies and to a product that symbolizes Made in Italy in the U.S. market,” he added.