12/27/2025

 

Samuel Clifford

 

Introduction

 

The United States is preparing to impose steep new duties on Italian‑made pasta, a move that could more than double the price of many imported brands and even push some of them off American shelves. The Commerce Department has proposed adding a 92% antidumping duty on top of the existing 15% tariff already applied to European Union imports, bringing the total rate to roughly 107%.

 

Purpose

 

These tariffs are being introduced because the U.S. government concluded that several Italian producers were selling pasta in the American market at “less than fair value,” meaning below the price charged in their home market or below production cost. According to the Commerce Department’s review, Italian exporters undercut U.S. pasta manufacturers between 2023 and 2024, triggering the antidumping investigation that now justifies the new duties. Some note that the administration views these tariffs as a corrective measure to counteract unfair pricing practices and protect domestic producers from being squeezed out of the market by artificially cheap imports.

 

What is Dumping?

 

Dumping, the central allegation behind these duties, is an established concept in international trade. It occurs when a company exports goods at a price lower than what it charges domestically or lower than the cost of production, often with the goal of gaining market share abroad. Because dumping can harm domestic industries, many countries—including the United States—use antidumping duties as a tool to neutralize the price advantage created by the practice. In this case, the proposed 92% antidumping duty is an ad valorem tariff, meaning it is calculated as a percentage of the product’s value rather than as a fixed charge per unit. This aligns with your notes: ad valorem tariffs rise or fall with the price of the imported good, making them distinct from specific or compound tariffs.

 

Is This Protectionism?

 

The broader economic logic behind these pasta duties fits squarely within the tradition of protectionism. Protectionism refers to policies designed to shield domestic industries from foreign competition, often through tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or regulatory barriers. By dramatically raising the cost of imported Italian pasta, the U.S. government is effectively giving American pasta producers a competitive advantage in their home market. Supporters argue that such measures preserve jobs, stabilize domestic production, and prevent foreign firms from using predatory pricing to dominate the market. Critics counter that consumers ultimately bear the cost through higher prices and fewer choices, and that retaliatory measures from trading partners can escalate into broader trade conflicts. 

Protectionism and Trade Barriers

 

Conclusion:

 

In the end, the pasta tariffs illustrate how a technical trade dispute can ripple outward into everyday life. What begins as an administrative review of pricing practices can reshape supermarket shelves, alter household budgets, and strain international relationships. Whether these duties succeed in protecting American pasta makers or simply burden consumers remains to be seen, but the policy itself is a clear example of ad valorem antidumping tariffs being used as a protectionist tool in the modern global economy.

 

Sources:

 

Cunningham, Mary. “A 107% U.S. Import Tax on Italian Pasta Could Make Your Favorite Spaghetti Pricier — or Hard to Find.” CBS News, 11 Nov. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/italian-pasta-antidumping-duties-imports-disappear-barilla/.

 

Delouya, Samantha, and Elisabeth Buchwald. “Your Favorite Pasta Could Soon Get a Lot More Expensive. Here’s Why.” CNN, 28 Nov. 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/economy/us-tariffs-italian-pasta.

 

Taub, Rob. “Tariffs Could Cause Prices of Italian‑Made Pasta to Surge.” Daily Mail, 2025, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/article-15368315/amp/trump-pasta-duty-commerce-department-italy.html.