Cease-Fire in ‘Spaghetti War’
The United States and the European Community have agreed to a one-week suspension of increased tariffs imposed in what has become known as the “spaghetti war,” officials said today.
The United States last month raised import duties on European pasta, which formerly stood at 1%, to 40% for products not containing eggs and to 25% for products containing eggs. The measure was to have gone into effect Saturday.
The community retaliated by increasing duties, formerly set at 8%, to 20% on U.S. lemons and 30% on American walnuts, effective today.
A European Commission official today said both parties have agreed to suspend the application of the extra duties for one week pending further consultations.
The United States imposed the increased pasta tariff in retaliation for preferential treatment given citrus imports from Mediterranean countries by the community.
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