The United States decided to reduce controversial anti-dumping

tariffs

on some Italian pasta brands, Italy’s Foreign Ministry said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce made the move before an anti-dumping investigation concludes in March, the ministry said in a statement. Rates that were provisionally set in September dropped to 2.3 per cent for La Molisana pasta, about 14 per cent for Garofalo and 9.1 per cent for 11 other producers, from a previous retaliatory tariff of almost 92 per cent.

“The redetermination of the tariffs is a sign of the recognition by U.S. authorities of our companies’ willingness to co-operate,” the ministry said. The rates are still subject to change pending the final conclusions from the probe.

La Molisana, Garofalo and others are facing anti-dumping tariffs after being accused of selling their products in the U.S. at artificially low prices. The levies are in addition to the baseline 15 per cent tariff already in place on most European Union exports to America.

The U.S. Department of Commerce couldn’t immediately be reached for comment during the New Year holiday.

Bloomberg.com