Looming Quartz Tariffs Would Impact Fabricators and Homebuilders
A coalition of quartz fabricators, home builders and trade professionals is calling on the industry to speak out against a proposed safeguard tariff that could impose tariffs of up to 50% or other trade restrictions on all quartz imports entering the U.S., regardless of country of origin.
The Save Quartz Jobs Coalition, represented by the law firm Hogan Lovells, is mobilizing opposition ahead of a critical April 1, 2026, vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The ITC will decide whether quartz imports have caused injury to domestic producers, a determination that could set the stage for sweeping tariffs or even import quotas by summer.
The case was brought by the Quartz Manufacturing Alliance of America, a group that includes Cambria, Dal-Tile, Guidoni and Hyundai L&C, which is seeking either a 50% ad valorem tariff on all quartz imports or quantitative restrictions limiting the volume of material entering the country.
“This proceeding pertains to all imports of quartz from all countries,” said Stoel, co-head of Hogan Lovells’ International Trade and Investment practice, in a recent interview on the Stone World Podcast. “In the past, there have been trade proceedings with respect to, for example, China, India and Turkey. But this proceeding actually covers all quartz from all quarters of the world.”
Unlike antidumping or countervailing duty cases that target specific countries, the Section 201 safeguard action applies globally, making it one of the most consequential trade proceedings the countertop industry has faced.
Economic Impact
A study commissioned by the coalition and conducted by economists at Capital Trade found that a 50% tariff on quartz imports would drive up quartz costs by approximately 70%, said Stoel. The same analysis projected net economic harm of roughly $730 million to the U.S. economy, with fabricators bearing the brunt of the impact.
“Adding 70% of cost to the countertops in your kitchens and your vanities, especially at a time when everybody knows how expensive it is to renovate your home or to build a new home, that’s just not something that the American economy should bear,” said Stoel.
The coalition has collected more than 1,000 declarations from fabricators opposed to the proposed tariffs and/or quotas. Stoel estimated that fabricators account for more than 100,000 jobs nationwide and said opposition to the case is nearly universal among them.
Home Builders Sound the Alarm
Ken Gear, CEO of Leading Builders of America, a trade association representing the 22 largest production home builders in the country, said the proposed tariffs come at the worst possible time for housing affordability.
“The economy and the housing market is in a crisis right now of affordability,” said Gear. “Housing affordability is always on voters’ lists, but it’s number one now in many places.”
Gear said his member companies build approximately half of all homes in the nation, with most of those homes targeting entry-level and middle-class buyers. He noted that over the past 12 to 15 years, the industry has shifted heavily from granite to quartz countertops in response to consumer demand for the material’s aesthetic appeal, durability and low maintenance.
If quartz prices spike due to tariffs, Gear said builders would have no choice but to revert to granite, laminate or other alternatives.
“We’re unable these days to pass along cost increases,” said Gear. “Customers and consumers are at their limit. The price of homes over the last 12 to 15 years has gone up double, and incomes have gone up less than half of that.”
Gear said the proposed action runs counter to bipartisan efforts at every level of government to address housing affordability, including recent congressional legislation and executive orders from the president.
What Comes Next
The case now hinges on three key phases. The first is the ITC’s April 1st vote on whether imports have caused injury to domestic producers. If the commission votes in the negative, the case ends.
If the ITC votes in the affirmative, the case moves to a remedy phase, with the ITC required to send its report to the president by May 18th. The president would then have the authority to impose tariffs and/or quotas on quartz imports, likely around the June timeframe.
One a silver lining, according to Stoel, is that the safeguard case does not include a retroactive component. Any tariffs imposed would apply from the date of implementation forward.
The coalition presented testimony at an ITC hearing in February, including testimony from Gear, Wisenbaker Builder Services and Rich Katzmann, executive director of the Rockheads, a group of 120 fabricator producers of quartz surface products.
Call to Action
Stoel urged fabricators to contact their members of Congress and ask them to weigh in with the commission. He also encouraged continued public opposition to the case.
“This is one of those issues where the squeaky wheel is important,” said Stoel. “We want to show the multinational companies that small businesses really care about this.”
More information about the case, including fabricator testimonials and details on how to take action, is available at SaveQuartzJobs.com.
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Jason Kamery is the Managing Editor and Group Digital Editor of Stone World. With more than a decade of experience covering the stone and countertop industry, he has conducted hundreds of interviews with fabricators, manufacturers, and industry leaders, and hosts the Stone World. podcast. He reports from events worldwide, including TISE, Coverings, and Marmomac, and his coverage extends to worker safety and silicosis, trade policy and tariffs, and fabrication technology. Kamery has also served as a speaker and panel moderator at The International Surface Event (TISE). He graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Mass Communication.
email: kameryj@bnpmedia.com | office: (248) 833-7356
