The International Trade Commission has instituted a Section 201 investigation to determine whether quartz surface products are being imported in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry.
Subject Goods
QSP consists of 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). The investigation only includes products where the silica content is greater than any other single material by actual weight.
QSP is typically sold as rectangular slabs with a total surface area of approximately 45 to 60 square feet and a nominal thickness of one, two, or three centimeters. However, the investigation covers (1) QSP of all other sizes, thicknesses, and shapes and (2) surfaces other than slabs such as countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, bar tops, work tops, tabletops, flooring, wall facing, shower surrounds, fireplace surrounds, mantels, and tiles.
The investigation covers QSP regardless of whether or not it is (1) polished, cut, fabricated, cured, edged, finished, thermoformed, or packaged and (2) imported attached to, or in conjunction with, non-subject merchandise such as sinks, sink bowls, vanities, cabinets, and furniture.
Subject QSP includes material that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise fabricated in a third country, including by cutting, polishing, curing, edging, thermoforming, attaching to or packaging with another product, or any other finishing, packaging, or fabrication that would not otherwise remove it from the scope if performed in the country of manufacture of the QSP.
QSP covered by the investigation is provided for HTSUS subheadings 6810.99.0020, 6810.99.0040, and 7020.00.6000.
The investigation does not cover quarried stone surface products such as granite, marble, soapstone, or quartzite.
Next Steps
Those wishing to participate in this investigation as parties must file an entry of appearance with the ITC no later than Dec. 22. The ITC has scheduled a hearing on injury for Feb. 24, 2026, and its injury determination is due by April 1. If that determination is affirmative the ITC will hold a hearing on remedy April 14. The ITC plans to submit its report to the president by May 18. (Click here for more information on these and related dates.)
If the ITC makes a final affirmative injury determination it will recommend relief, which may include tariff increases, quotas, tariff-rate quotas, trade adjustment assistance, or any combination thereof. The petitioner asked the ITC to consider (1) a quota system that would limit the volume of QSP imports on a country-specific basis and (2) a 50 percent tariff on all QSP imports or a specific tariff applied to the weight of QSP at an appropriate rate.
However, any relief proposed by the ITC is merely advisory; it is up to the president to make the final decision on whether to provide relief as well as its form, amount, and duration. Relief may initially be imposed for up to four years and extended to no more than eight.
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