Mama Mia! Potential tariffs could increase costs of NJ’s favorite pasta brands
The Trump administration could raise tariffs on 13 Italian brands by 91%.
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If there's one thing most New Jerseyans can agree on, it's their love for fresh pasta. However, your favorite Italian brands could double in price or disappear altogether due to potential tariffs.
It all comes down to a potential massive tariff increase on 13 popular imported brands.
Michael Ali helps run the family-owned Livoti’s Old World Market in Brick Township and other locations along the Jersey Shore.
“I am a big fan of the Giuseppe Cocco…It is on the list, unfortunately,” said Ali.
A recent report by the United States Department of Commerce issued in September found possible dumping by Italian imports, selling them at lower prices in the U.S. than in Italy. Because of these findings, the Trump administration could raise tariffs on 13 Italian brands by 91%.
Those brands include Agritalia, Aldino, Antiche Tradizioni Di Gragnano, Barilla (Italian made), Gruppo Milo, La Molisana, Pasta Garofalo, Pasta Rummo, Pastificio Artigiano Cav. Giuseppe Cocco, Pastificio Chiavenna, Pastificio Liguori, Pastificio Sgambaro and Pastificio Tamma.
If the higher tariffs go into effect in January, prices could double, or brands could pull out of the U.S. market.
“That ’s a real shame because some of the brands we are talking about are some of the best pastas that I’ve ever eaten in my life,” said Ali.
Some shoppers, like Melanie Barger of Brick, don't seem too worried.
“It does not concern me. I would adjust,” said Barger. “If it doubled in price, would you still buy it or move on? No. I’d move on to something else, definitely. It wouldn’t be that much of a difference for me.”
Ali says he’ll work with his distributors and importers - if those tariffs take effect, offering other sales deals – and there’s always the American brands.
“Hopefully, this can be worked out. Ultimately, I think that’s what we all want. A lot of the pasta that we grew up on, the Barilla, the Ronzoni, the stuff that was in every household that will still be around,” added Ali.
