Articles by Jason Kamery

ITC to vote April 1st on injury determination; Capital Trade study finds tariff could raise quartz costs 70%, cause $730 million in economic harm

A major investigative report published on March 12, 2026 by KFF Health News and CBS News has drawn renewed national attention to the silicosis epidemic among engineered stone countertop fabrication workers and to a federal bill that would shield slab manufacturers from worker lawsuits.

The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) presented a shop licensing and certification program to California workplace safety regulators, positioning the industry-led proposal as a practical alternative to a physician-backed petition calling for an outright ban on engineered stone fabrication in the state.

California's Silicosis Training, Outreach and Prevention (STOP) Act, the most aggressive state-level regulation targeting silica exposure in the stone countertop fabrication industry, took full effect on January 1, 2026, after Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law on October 13, 2025.

On Friday, February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the bulk of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime, ruling 6-3 that he exceeded his authority by using a 1977 emergency law to unilaterally impose import duties on nearly every American trading partner, a decision with immediate implications for industries reliant on imported raw materials, including the more than 20,000 stone fabrication and installation companies across the country.

Coverings, the premier North American trade show for tile and stone, returns to Las Vegas, NV, from March 30 through April 2, 2026. The international exhibition will be housed at the Las Vegas Convention Center, filling both the North and Central Halls with exhibitors from approximately 40 countries. Jamie Rich, Coverings managing director, said the international scope of the event continues to set it apart.

What stone fabricators and importers need to know about the decision and what comes next.

A group of countertop fabricators discussed the challenges and opportunities of offering repair services during a recent industry roundtable discussion, identifying workforce training, pricing strategy and the growing complications of porcelain countertops as key concerns.

The International Surface Fabricators Association is preparing for a transformative 2026, with plans to hire new staff, launch a shop accreditation program and pursue ANSI developer status as the organization works to establish itself as the leading voice for countertop fabricators nationwide.

A federal bill introduced in Congress would protect manufacturers and sellers of engineered stone products from civil lawsuits brought by workers who develop silicosis, shifting liability squarely onto fabricators who fail to follow safety regulations.