Pasta is, arguably, one of the most versatile carbs. Whether it’s the shape of the noodle, from the classic linguine to the more recent cascatelli, or the dish itself, there’s no shortage of pasta combinations fit for lunch, dinner, or even dessert.
And whether you’re keeping it vegetarian with classics like macaroni and cheese or penne vodka, or amping it up with meat à la simple spaghetti carbonara, pasta with sauce is a budget-friendly meal option that suits most preferences and diets.
Unfortunately for noodle lovers, though, there’s a chance that pasta is about to get way more expensive—and some brands could disappear from American grocery shelves altogether.
New Proposed Tariffs Are Aimed at Imported Italian Pasta
Tariffs have been a hot topic as of late, with new regulations potentially affecting costs of plenty of common household items and pantry goods, from coffee to olive oil and plenty of spices in between. Now, another staple is at risk: imported Italian pasta.
According to a report from The New York Times, the U.S. government recently accused Italian producers of selling products at “artificially low prices” in America. Additionally, producers allegedly failed to cooperate with a routine investigation spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Commerce following a standard inquiry. This has prompted the U.S. government to propose an anti-dumping duty of nearly 92 percent. An anti-dumping duty is a tariff imposed when a government believes foreign companies are selling goods below fair market value—or “dumping”—to gain an unfair advantage over domestic producers.
The initial request for the investigation actually came from two American pasta makers—Ronzoni’s parent company and Winland Foods, which owns brands like San Giorgio and Prince—who have a long-standing, standard practice of petitioning the government over pricing concerns.
Tariffs are nothing new for Italian pasta producers, who have faced anti-dumping duties for the last three decades, and a separate 15 percent tariff since this past summer. However, the new change would push total tariffs to about 107 percent, making it almost impossible for them to sell pasta in the United States, where Italy accounts for roughly 12 percent of the market.
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Beyond higher prices in America, these tariffs could cause ripple effects in Italy, from higher prices to counterfeit “Italian-made” labels on lower-quality products trying to fill gaps on U.S. shelves.
Two companies were singled out for failing to fully respond to the most recent inquiry, but the proposed tariffs would also apply to several other major Italian pasta makers—including Barilla and Rummo. While many Barilla products sold in the U.S. are made in American factories and wouldn’t be affected, any Barilla pasta imported from Italy would face the new duties.
Italian producers have appealed the decision, as they claim to have provided all the requested information following the inquiries, and report that they are “shocked” by the tariffs—and they aren’t the only ones.
What Shoppers Are Saying About the Potential Pasta Tariffs
“Gotta stock up on Garofalo before this hits,” wrote one American pasta fan on a Reddit thread about the potential tariffs, while another added that it’s time “to dust off that 90s pasta machine I’ve got sitting in the basement.”
Another Redditor pointed out that pasta isn’t the only product subject to price increases, noting, “Don’t forget Italian cheese. Parmigiano reggiano jumped to $20/lb (!!!) this week.”
While some in the U.S. are brushing up on their pasta-making skills and bulk-ordering online, Italian producers remain hopeful that the situation will be resolved before the tariffs are set to go into effect in January. If the final verdict in early 2026 results in a significant price hike, at least pasta easy (and fun) to make at home—and hey, we still have Chef Boyardee.
Dining and Cooking