Quartz-Surface Safeguard Action Moves Forward
WASHINGTON – The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today found that surging foreign imports of quartz surfaces is harming domestic manufacturers and can be subject to new tariffs and shipment quotas.
The committee voted 2-1 to agree with the Section 201, or safeguard, petition filed last September by the Quartz Manufacturing Alliance of America (QMAA), a group of U.S.-based quartz-surface manufacturers.
The petition cited a major increase in shipments from outside the United States from 2020onward caused serious injury to U.S.-manufactured quartz surfaces. A study by the USITC, presented at a marathon 10-hour hearing in February, showed that market share for U.S. manufacturers declined from 19.4% in 2020 to 11.7% in 2025.
The USITC will now consider actions to remedy the impact of foreign quartz-surface shipments, with a public hearing set for April 14 in Washington. The USITC can propose quotas, tariffs, and other trade settlements; the QMAA requested a 50% tariff and a country-specific set of quotas.
The USITC then forwards the recommendation to President Donald Trump by May 18. The president can use the USITC suggestions or choose to construct a different set of actions.
Upon agreement by the president, the actions are in force for four years, with the option of extending them for another four years.
The USITC, citing federal statutes, specifically exempted four countries – Canada, Israel, Mexico, and South Korea, due to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between them and the United States. There are currently 14 countries with active FTAs, although the only one with consistent quartz-surface exports to the United States is Oman.
The president can choose to accept or reject those exemptions in his final decision.
More details on the decision should become available by the April 14 remedy hearing. A full report will be issued when the USITC makes it final recommendations to the president.
USITC members Amy Carpel and Jason Kerns, both Democrats appointed by President Trump during his first term, voted in favor of the petition. David Johanson, a Republican appointed by President Barack Obama, cast the no vote.
All three members are serving beyond the end of their terms. Three other positions remain vacant; the USITC hasn’t had a full slate of six members since 2017,