Quartz Manufacturers Push for 50% Tariff to Protect Domestic Jobs

The coalition, representing major firms including Cambria, LX Hausys, and Guidoni USA, is petitioning the Trump Administration to enforce aggressive safeguard remedies. Their appeal follows a U.S. International Trade Commission investigation that confirmed a 78.3% spike in quartz imports over the last five years, a trend that has slashed domestic production by nearly 20%. Industry leaders argue that foreign competitors from nations including China, Vietnam, and Thailand are circumventing trade laws, driving prices to unsustainable levels that stifle growth and prevent new hiring.

For employees on the front lines, the stakes are personal. Raymond Mack, a production operator at Guidoni USA in Georgia, expressed fears that his facility could face the same fate as local predecessors that shuttered due to cheap imports. The alliance is pushing for a 141 million square foot import cap, framing the measure as a necessary step to level the playing field. The United States Trade Representative is slated to deliver a final decision on the safeguard petition by August 1, 2026.