President boosts quartz countertops against cheap import competition
Published Date: 8/5/2026
Presidential Document
Summary
No summary available.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
4‑Year Tariff‑Rate Quota on Quartz Imports
Starting August 15, 2026, the President imposes a tariff‑rate quota on imports of quartz surface products for a period of 4 years. The quota sets within‑quota quantities that increase each year and changes the duty rates for goods entered within and in excess of those quantities in years two through four, as described in the Annex.
Domestic Quartz Industry Protection
The proclamation states the safeguard measure is intended to facilitate the domestic quartz surface products industry making a positive adjustment to import competition and to provide greater economic and social benefits than costs. The President finds the action appropriate and feasible after considering the ITC reports.
Country Exemptions and Developing‑Country Limits
The safeguard does not apply to quartz surface products that are the product of Australia, Canada, CAFTA‑DR countries, CBERA beneficiaries, Colombia, the Republic of Korea, Israel, Mexico, Panama, Peru, or Singapore; those imports will not be counted toward the tariff‑rate quota. Developing countries listed in Note 41 are excluded so long as any single such country's import share does not exceed 3 percent and all such countries with less than 3 percent collectively do not exceed 9 percent.
Foreign‑Trade Zone Treatment After August 15, 2026
Any merchandise subject to the safeguard measure that is admitted into U.S. foreign‑trade zones on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August 15, 2026 must be admitted as 'privileged foreign status' and will be subject upon entry for consumption to any quantitative restrictions or tariffs related to the applicable HTSUS subheading.
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