President Trump issued July 31 a proclamation imposing a tariff-rate quota on quartz surface products following a Section 201 determination that these products are being imported in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive article.
Product Coverage
For purposes of this TRQ, QSP means 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). QSP is typically sold as rectangular slabs but the TRQ covers other surfaces as well, such as countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, bar tops, work tops, tabletops, flooring, wall facing, shower surrounds, fireplace surrounds, mantels, and tiles. QSP covered by this TRQ is provided for under HTSUS subheadings 6810.99.0020, 6810.99.0040, and 7020.00.6000.
Import Restrictions
The proclamation imposes a TRQ on QSP imports for a four-year period beginning Aug. 15, 2026.
The in-quota tariff rate will be 25 percent in the first year, 23 percent in the second year, 21 percent in the third year, and 19 percent in the fourth year. The above-quota tariff rate will be 50 percent in the first year, 49 percent in the second year, 48 percent in the third year, and 47 percent in the fourth year.
The in-quota volume is 13.0 million square meters in the first year, 14.8 million square meters in the second year, 15.2 million square meters in the third year, and 15.7 million square meters in the fourth year. These amounts will be allocated on a quarterly basis, with each allocation allowing for 25 percent of the in-quota volume.
Exceptions
This TRQ will apply to imports from all countries except the following.
- Canada and Mexico (partners under the USMCA)
- Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Singapore, and South Korea (which all have free trade agreements with the U.S.)
- dozens of developing countries (subject to certain criteria; see the proclamation annex)
- beneficiary countries under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (also listed in the annex)
The proclamation also authorizes the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate agreements with foreign trading partners limiting their exports of QSP to the U.S. Such agreements could result QSP imports from the partner countries being excluded from the TRQ.
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