Pasta from Italy could get pricier due to tariffs

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Tariffs on Italian-made pasta could nearly double.

The Trump Administration is pushing back against 13 of Italy’s largest pasta exporters.

This comes just a few months after many brands were found selling their products below U.S. market prices.

That begs the question: what does this mean for you, the consumer?

Sarah Speith, manager of Roma Imports in Tucson, said tariffs have already had an impact. That is, even if they aren’t able to see exactly what the tax is on importing pasta, as they use suppliers.

But she thinks the prices will rise even more.

“We expect this to increase further, so we’ll see more,” Speith said.

But this isn’t the first tariff-fueled price increase they’ve faced.

“The beef prices is definitely something we’re feeling,” Speith said. “We use beef in our bolo, bolognese sauce, in our lasagnas, and we had to raise prices on those.”

And Speith said that’ll be the case in response to increased pasta prices for them.

It was not a decision they wanted to make, but more so a need.

“Compromise on quality or raise the price,” Speith said. “And here at Roma, we don’t want to compromise on quality, so our customers are seeing some prices go up.”

Roma Imports is a retail and deli store, but it also serves meals to customers.

Speith said the store has been in her family for the past 25 years, and they want to do everything they can to continue to give their customers their very best.

But sustained price increases from tariffs are making that increasingly harder for them to do.

“We’re nervous. You know, a lot of our customers are on a fixed income,” Speith said. “You know, they don’t have the flexibility. You know, we’re going into the busy Christmas season.”

Roma Imports is trying to keep prices down where it can, as Speith said, it is offering affordable dinners to customers.

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