USTR Proposes 25% Tariff on Most Brazilian Goods, Sparing Quartzite but Not Granite, Marble and Slate
Brazilian granite, marble and slate could face an additional 25% tariff under a proposed Section 301 action announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, though quartzite would be exempt under the current proposal.
The USTR determined June 1 that certain of Brazil's acts, policies and practices are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The determination covers Brazil's policies related to digital trade and electronic payment services, unfair preferential tariffs, anti-corruption enforcement, intellectual property protection, ethanol market access and illegal deforestation.
As a result, the agency has proposed a 25% tariff on most goods imported from Brazil. The proposal stems from an investigation President Donald Trump directed the USTR to open in July 2025.
No tariff has been enacted. The proposal now enters a public comment and hearing process, and the USTR said the United States continues to engage with Brazil to seek a resolution of its concerns.
What It Means for Stone
The proposed action includes a lengthy list of exempted goods spanning 77 pages of Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes. Among the exemptions is the customs category covering quartzite, the premium natural stone that makes up a significant share of Brazilian slab shipments to the U.S. market.
Granite, marble and slate from Brazil would remain subject to the proposed 25% tariff.
Broader exemption categories in the proposal include informational materials, donations, goods already covered by Section 232 tariffs, materials the United States cannot produce in sufficient quantities and products that would cause economy-wide disruptions if tariffed.
The stakes for the stone industry are substantial. Brazil shipped 596,645 metric tons of natural stone to the United States in 2025, accounting for 24.3% of all imported natural stone volume, according to data analysis from Hard-Surface Report. That product carried a customs value of $915.5 million, nearly 41% of all natural stone import value for the year.
Comment Period and Hearing
The public comment period opened June 1. Requests to appear at the public hearing, along with a summary of testimony, are due June 22. Written comments are due July 1.
The USTR will hold a public hearing July 6 in the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington.
Fabricators, importers, distributors and trade associations that want to weigh in can submit comments through the USTR's online portal at comments.ustr.gov/s. The docket number for written comments is USTR-2026-0331. The docket number for hearing requests is USTR-2026-0397.
Because Section 301 requires the USTR to complete consultation and public comment steps before taking action, any final tariff decision would come after the July hearing. The agency could modify the proposed tariff rate, adjust the exemption list or reach a negotiated resolution with Brazil before any duties take effect.
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