United States imposes safeguard tariff-rate quota on imports of quartz surface products
The HTSUS modifications take effect on August 15, 2026.
President Trump on July 31, 2026, signed a proclamation imposing a safeguard measure on imports of quartz surface products (QSP) under sections 201 and 203 of the Trade Act of 1974. The action follows a determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that QSP imports have increased in quantities sufficient to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive products.
The proclamation establishes a four-year tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on certain QSP classified under HTSUS subheadings 6810.99.0020, 6810.99.0040, and 7020.00.6000. The measure includes annual increases in within-quota quantities and reductions in duty rates during the second, third, and fourth years, as detailed in the annex to the proclamation.
The safeguard measure generally applies to imports from all countries but excludes imports from Canada and Mexico based on findings under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act that those imports do not account for a substantial share of total imports and do not contribute importantly to the serious injury found by the ITC.
The proclamation also excludes imports from Australia, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) countries; Colombia; Jordan; Korea; Panama; Peru; Singapore; and qualifying developing countries, provided their individual import share remains below 3% and their collective share remains below 9%. Imports from Israel and Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) beneficiaries are also excluded, as their existing duty-free and preferential tariff treatments will not be suspended under this safeguard.
The proclamation authorizes the U.S. Trade Representative to modify the scope of exclusions, particularly regarding developing countries exceeding import thresholds, address import surges or circumvention, and negotiate agreements with trading partners concerning QSP exports and related investment commitments.
The HTSUS modifications take effect for goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 AM ET on August 15, 2026, and will remain in effect for the duration specified in the proclamation unless earlier reduced, modified, or terminated. Any merchandise subject to the safeguard measure that is admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone on or after that time must be admitted in privileged foreign status.