US Quartz Industry Divided as Coalition Forms to Fight New Tariffs
A new group representing downstream fabricators and installers is opposing a tariff petition by manufacturers, citing risks to jobs and housing affordability.
A deep fissure has emerged within the U.S. quartz industry, as a new coalition of more than 1,000 fabricators, installers, and distributors has formed to combat a trade petition filed by a handful of large manufacturers seeking steep tariffs on imported quartz surface products.
The group, calling itself "Save Quartz Jobs," announced its formation in response to a Section 201 "safeguard" investigation initiated by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The investigation stems from a petition by U.S.-based manufacturers, including Cambria Company LLC, seeking protection from what they characterize as a flood of low-cost imports that threatens the domestic industry.
The petitioners are asking the government to impose significant tariffs and quotas on quartz slabs from overseas, a move they argue is necessary to level the playing field and protect American manufacturing jobs. However, the newly formed coalition contends that such protectionist measures would have a devastating effect on their own businesses.
"These tariffs would significantly increase material costs for U.S. fabricators and installers, disrupt supply chains, and intensify affordability challenges within the American housing market," the coalition stated on its website, savequartzjobs.com. The group warns that the proposed trade barriers would jeopardize more than 100,000 American jobs, primarily in the small and family-owned businesses that cut, finish, and install quartz countertops for homes and businesses.
The conflict highlights the complex tensions within a global supply chain. While primary slab manufacturers like Cambria push for protection, the downstream businesses that rely on a mix of domestic and imported products to serve their customers are bracing for impact.
Caught in the middle are publicly traded global players like Caesarstone Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSTE). The Israeli-based company, a significant force in the U.S. market, has seen its financials struggle, reporting a negative return on equity of -27.8% and a stock price trading near $1.50, far off its 52-week high of $4.97. With a market capitalization of just over $54 million, any new tariffs on imported materials could further pressure its margins, while potential benefits for its U.S. production facilities remain uncertain.
The dispute could also send ripples to material science giants like DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE: DD). As a key supplier of advanced polymers and resins used in the production of engineered stone, DuPont’s construction-related segments could face shifting demand and pricing dynamics depending on the outcome of the ITC investigation. The chemical conglomerate currently boasts a market capitalization of over $17.1 billion.
The International Trade Commission is expected to continue its investigation over the coming months, gathering information from both sides before making a determination. The outcome will be a critical catalyst for the entire U.S. quartz sector, from large multinational producers to local countertop installers, and could ultimately impact the cost of home renovation projects across the country.