The Trump administration is preparing to impose tariffs on nearly a dozen Italian pasta makers, which could lead to a significant increase in prices for authentic Italian pasta in the United States, due to several companies failing to provide requested data multiple times.The Trump administration is implementing a 92% tariff on top of the previous 15% tariff on European Union exports. This would essentially place a 107% tariff on pasta imported by companies such as La Molisana, Barilla, and Garofalo starting in January.A White House Spokesperson said it’s related to a data request for an ongoing “anti-dumping probe” that started in 1996. “Dumping” refers to companies exporting products into the U.S. market at a price lower than their normal value in the company’s home market. The goal is to ensure they are not selling products in the U.S. at prices domestic manufacturers can’t compete with. Richard Armanino from Ital Foods, which is based in South San Francisco and one of the largest Italian goods importers in Northern California, expressed relief that his company was largely spared. “Fortunately, none of our producers are on that list,” he said.However, Armanino said that although his business is spared right now, it could have a ripple effect spanning from businesses, restaurants, and consumers.”I hope it gets resolved before it gets applied. Just because it doesn’t impact our business, it still impacts the industry, it impacts the consumer, pricing, and it creates a lot of disruption in the marketplace,” said Armanino. Mari Morgan, owner of Chubby Cupboard Pasta Shop in Carmichael, is one of the domestic pasta makers who could benefit if consumers choose to shop local with the price increase.”I know that my pasta is not accessible for a lot of people,” Morgan said. “Things that are made domestically tend to have a higher price tag because it’s more expensive to produce things here.”The small business owner also acknowledges the struggle the tariffs could cause.”There’s an opportunity for me, and then on the other hand, I’m worried about people in our community who cannot afford their staple foods anymore,” Morgan said.For example, a bag of rigatoni that costs $5 could nearly double in price if these tariffs go into effect in January.White House spokesman Kush Desai explained the situation in a statement to KCRA 3. “Italian pasta makers repeatedly screwed up a simple data request for a routine review of an anti-dumping probe that has been ongoing since 1996, during the Clinton presidency. After they screwed up their initial responses, the Commerce Department explained to them what the problems were and asked them to fix those problems; they didn’t. And then Commerce communicated the requirements again, and they didn’t answer for a third time. The Commerce Department’s preliminary finding, based on incomplete information since the pasta makers didn’t provide it, was a 91.74 percent duty. The pasta makers still have several months to continue participating in this review before this preliminary finding becomes finalized.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The Trump administration is preparing to impose tariffs on nearly a dozen Italian pasta makers, which could lead to a significant increase in prices for authentic Italian pasta in the United States, due to several companies failing to provide requested data multiple times.
The Trump administration is implementing a 92% tariff on top of the previous 15% tariff on European Union exports. This would essentially place a 107% tariff on pasta imported by companies such as La Molisana, Barilla, and Garofalo starting in January.
A White House Spokesperson said it’s related to a data request for an ongoing “anti-dumping probe” that started in 1996.
“Dumping” refers to companies exporting products into the U.S. market at a price lower than their normal value in the company’s home market. The goal is to ensure they are not selling products in the U.S. at prices domestic manufacturers can’t compete with.
Richard Armanino from Ital Foods, which is based in South San Francisco and one of the largest Italian goods importers in Northern California, expressed relief that his company was largely spared.
“Fortunately, none of our producers are on that list,” he said.
However, Armanino said that although his business is spared right now, it could have a ripple effect spanning from businesses, restaurants, and consumers.
“I hope it gets resolved before it gets applied. Just because it doesn’t impact our business, it still impacts the industry, it impacts the consumer, pricing, and it creates a lot of disruption in the marketplace,” said Armanino.
Mari Morgan, owner of Chubby Cupboard Pasta Shop in Carmichael, is one of the domestic pasta makers who could benefit if consumers choose to shop local with the price increase.
“I know that my pasta is not accessible for a lot of people,” Morgan said. “Things that are made domestically tend to have a higher price tag because it’s more expensive to produce things here.”
The small business owner also acknowledges the struggle the tariffs could cause.
“There’s an opportunity for me, and then on the other hand, I’m worried about people in our community who cannot afford their staple foods anymore,” Morgan said.
For example, a bag of rigatoni that costs $5 could nearly double in price if these tariffs go into effect in January.
White House spokesman Kush Desai explained the situation in a statement to KCRA 3.
“Italian pasta makers repeatedly screwed up a simple data request for a routine review of an anti-dumping probe that has been ongoing since 1996, during the Clinton presidency. After they screwed up their initial responses, the Commerce Department explained to them what the problems were and asked them to fix those problems; they didn’t. And then Commerce communicated the requirements again, and they didn’t answer for a third time. The Commerce Department’s preliminary finding, based on incomplete information since the pasta makers didn’t provide it, was a 91.74 percent duty. The pasta makers still have several months to continue participating in this review before this preliminary finding becomes finalized.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Dining and Cooking