Federal Register Notice

Lotte Chemical California, Inc. (LCCA) opposes the proposed global Section 201 safeguard on quartz surface products, arguing that it would cause significant downstream harm to U.S. fabricators and consumers. The company advocates for using ongoing Section 301 proceedings to address China-driven overcapacity instead, or alternatively, implementing country-specific tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) and product-specific exclusions.

The commenter, a small fabricator in Oklahoma, argues that the proposed tariffs on quartz will hurt businesses and increase costs for home builders. They argue that the target is unfair because it focuses on one material while ignoring others, and that it will disproportionately affect lower-to-mid-range housing.

Jaeckle Distributors, a regional flooring distributor, opposes the proposed safeguard remedies on imported quartz surface products due to concerns over increased costs and supply disruptions. They argue that broad tariffs and quotas will harm downstream American businesses, reduce consumer demand, and favor large national corporations over smaller independent distributors.

The commenter, a domestic quartz countertop fabricator, opposes tariffs or quotas on full-slab quartz surface products (QSP) because they would increase material costs, reduce supply, and cause "demand destruction" by driving customers toward cheaper alternatives. They argue that the real competitive threat comes from imported "cut-to-size" finished countertops and suggest that any trade relief should be targeted at those products instead of raw slabs.

The commenter opposes the proposed action, arguing that it would be detrimental to the fabrication and building industries. They contend that the regulation would negatively impact the economy and fail to account for safer, technologically advanced quartz materials already available in the market.

Harlan Bost, owner of Florida Custom Marble, expresses concern that proposed quartz surface product (QSP) safeguard measures will lead to significant price volatility, supply shortages, and increased housing costs. While he supports domestic manufacturing, he argues that the policy must include specific protections for downstream manufacturers who bear the brunt of these costs.

Ricardo Villacis of America’s Granite Inc. argues that tariffs on imported raw quartz materials will unfairly burden small fabricators by increasing production costs and reducing profit margins. He contends that these tariffs could create monopolies and material shortages, suggesting that trade protections should instead target fully manufactured imported countertops to better protect domestic jobs.

Metro Stone Works, a family-owned countertop fabrication company, opposes the proposed tariff-rate quota on imported quartz. They argue that the tariffs will increase costs for downstream fabricators and builders, create supply chain uncertainty, and ultimately drive up housing prices for consumers.

A small-to-mid-sized fabricator argues that the proposed action (specifically regarding quartz pricing and supplier fees) will place an unsustainable burden on their business. They contend that these costs will be passed down to customers, ultimately reducing job volume and causing economic strain across the construction industry.

Luder Quiroz, owner of a U.S.-based quartz surface product (QSP) fabrication company, opposes the proposed safeguard remedies of quotas and tariffs. He argues that these trade restrictions would cause severe adverse effects by disrupting his supply chain, increasing costs, and forcing the curtailment of U.S. manufacturing operations and jobs.