United States Imposes New Section 201 Safeguard on Quartz Surface Products

On July 31, 2026, the White House has announced a new Section 201 global safeguard on imports of certain quartz surface products following an affirmative injury determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). The measure is intended to provide temporary relief to the U.S. quartz manufacturing industry after the Administration determined that increased imports have caused serious injury to domestic producers.

Products Covered

The safeguard applies to certain quartz surface products, including:

• Quartz slabs

• Fabricated quartz surface products

The proclamation identifies products classified under the following HTSUS provisions:

• 6810.99.0020

• 6810.99.0040

• 7020.00.6000

Importers should note that the legal product scope—not the HTSUS classification alone—determines whether a product is subject to the safeguard. Careful review of product specifications is recommended.

How the Safeguard Works

Rather than imposing a single additional tariff on all imports, the measure establishes a Tariff-Rate Quota (TRQ) system.

During the first year:

• Imports entering within the annual quota are subject to an additional 25% duty.

• Imports exceeding the annual quota are subject to an additional 40% duty.

The additional duty rates gradually decrease over the four-year safeguard period. The quota will be administered using quarterly allocations.

Countries Excluded

Consistent with U.S. free trade agreement obligations and statutory requirements, the safeguard excludes imports that are products of several countries, including: 

• Australia

• Canada

• Colombia

• Costa Rica

• Dominican Republic

• El Salvador

• Guatemala

• Honduras

• Israel

• Jordan

• Mexico

• Nicaragua

• Panama

• Peru

• Singapore

• South Korea

• Caribbean Basin Beneficiary Countries (CBERA)

Products originating from countries not specifically excluded may be subject to the safeguard if they fall within the legal scope of the proclamation.

What Importers Should Do

Importers of engineered and manufactured quartz products should:

• Review product classifications and determine whether products fall within the legal scope.

• Verify the country of origin and confirm whether an exclusion applies.

• Evaluate potential duty exposure under the tariff-rate quota.

• Monitor quota availability prior to shipment when commercially significant.

• Review pricing, supplier agreements, and landed-cost calculations for future imports.

Juno's Recommendation

This new safeguard introduces another significant trade remedy that could impact sourcing decisions and overall import costs. Because Section 201 safeguards operate differently from Section 232 and Section 301 trade measures, importers should confirm both product eligibility and quota availability before entry.

If your company imports quartz surface products, Juno Customs Solutions can help evaluate product scope, determine applicable duties, and assist with import planning to reduce compliance risks. For questions regarding these changes, please contact us at brokerage@junocustoms.com