Quartz “Safeguard” Import Tariffs to Start Aug. 15

WASHINGTON – Most quartz-surface imports will face tariffs as high as 50% during a four-year program approved by President Donald Trump on July 31.

A tariff rate/quota system will go into effect on Aug. 15 that sets an annual quarterly square-foot target amount for imports.

For 2026-2027, the annual target level is approximately 140 million ft², divided every 90 days from Aug. 15 to a level of 35 million ft². Products arriving in the United States before the target get a 25% tariff;  then 50% above the target amount.

The target level will increase every year, and the tariff percentages will decrease before the scheduled end of the program in August 2030.

A limited number of countries will be exempt from the tariffs due to free-trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States, including Canada, South Korea, and Mexico. The tariff will also not apply to more than 100 countries with developing economies.

The new quartz tariffs will be added to others imposed by the United States, including the recent 10%-12.5% forced-labor-enforcement tariffs and unfair-trade tariffs assessed in the past eight years on quartz-surface imports from China, India, and Turkey.

The tariffs will apply to all quartz-surface products, from slabs to pre-cut to pieces assembled on furniture. Imports must be processed through U.S. ports-of-entry by 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 15.

The new tariffs result from a petition filed by the Quartz Manufacturing Alliance of America (QMAA) last September, asking for federal-government relief in the wake of increased quartz-surface imports from 2020-2024.

The QMAA asked for a 50% tariff on all quartz-surface products, regardless of country of origin, and a total annual cap on imports of 155 million ft² during the first year, with 1% adjustments annually to a 47% tariff and 170 million ft² ending in 2030.

Opponents, including importers, non U.S.-based manufacturers, and foreign countries argued before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) earlier this year for a tariff rate/quota system with no additional tariffs under 193 million ft² annually, and a “moderate tariff” on imports above that level.

Both the USITC and a panel convened by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) ultimately recommended a tariff rate/quota system with no hard limit on the amount of quartz-surface imports annually.

For 2027-2028, the rate target will be approximately 159 million ft² annually, with a tariff-rate split of 23%/49%. The 2028-2029 target will be approximately 164 million ft² with a 21%/48% split, and the final year will be approximately 169 million ft² with a 19%/47% split.

All years will include the target import level divided into quarters. If total imports in any quarter fall below the target levels, the difference will be added to the following quarter.

The president’s order also set limits on the growth rate of imports from exempted countries under the new tariffs. Excessive imports could lead to the revoking of exemption.

The order also authorizes the USTR to negotiate with countries on agreements for tariff exemption if U.S. quartz-surface exports are limited. Agreements could also include commitments to begin U.S.-based slab production.

The tariff action includes “slabs and other surfaces created from a mixture of materials that includes predominately silica (e.g., quartz, quartz powder, cristobalite, glass powder) as well as a resin binder (e.g., an unsaturated polyester).

“However, the scope only includes products where the silica content is greater than any other single material, by actual weight,” according to the action.

Among the top 10 quartz importers this May (the latest month available) only Canada is exempt by FTA and the Philippines as a developing country. The other eight – India, Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia and Czechia – will be subject to the new tariffs.

The 507,517 ft² from all exempted countries in May is 2.9% of the total 17.3 million ft² of quartz-surface imports.