The planned increase in tariffs on imported furniture is postponed for a year, and the prohibitive tariffs on Italian pasta have been reduced after several months of negotiations.
President Donald Trump has eased pressure on two important import sectors - furniture and pasta. Reports from Rome indicate that the U.S. has significantly reduced previously proposed draconian tariffs (90%) for several Italian pasta manufacturers "after reassessing their activities in the American market." Earlier, Washington accused companies La Molisana and Garofalo of dumping, promising to raise tariffs on them to over 90 percent.
The U.S. is a crucial market for Italian pasta manufacturers. Their exports to America amounted to approximately 671 million euros in 2024, accounting for about 17% of Italy's total pasta exports. Rome has been actively negotiating with the White House to achieve a smoothing of the announced tariffs.
As for furniture, the introduction of high tariffs on its imports to the U.S. has been postponed for a year - until January 2027. Thus, Washington maintains a 25% tariff on "certain softwood products," kitchen cabinets, and vanities, whereas it had previously planned to raise them to 30-50%. "The United States continues to engage in productive negotiations with trading partners to address issues of reciprocity in trade and national security regarding the import of wooden products," the White House statement said.
Tariffs on furniture were introduced in September 2025 as part of a broader program to reorganize Washington's trade relations with external partners and support domestic industry. In addition to the 25% tariffs on furniture and cabinets, at the end of last year, the administration also imposed 10% tariffs on imports of wood and lumber from coniferous species.
The increase in rates, which was set to begin this week, would have particularly hit imports from major suppliers like Vietnam and China and would have occurred against the backdrop of ongoing concerns about rising consumer prices.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to soon rule on the legality of some tariffs. The litigation began after a group of business representatives filed a lawsuit against U.S. authorities, claiming that the tariffs are illegal and harm their companies. Earlier, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that this issue represents a matter of national security for Washington.
