Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
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JA, IDMA Talk Tariffs With Execs in DC
The group met with the president's senior trade advisor earlier this week to express the industry’s concerns about the effects of tariffs.
From left to right, Jewelers of America’s Dave Bonaparte; Trump’s trade advisor Dr. Peter Navarro; International Diamond Manufacturers Association President Ronnie VanderLinden; and Tim Haake of law firm Haake & Associates.
New York–Jewelers of America (JA) President and CEO Dave Bonaparte and other industry representatives recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss the impact of tariffs with Trump administration executives.
On Aug. 19, they met with Dr. Peter Navarro, senior counselor for trade and manufacturing to President Donald Trump and his senior staff.
Bonaparte was joined by Tim Haake of Haake & Associates, JA's government affairs firm, and Ronnie VanderLinden, president of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA).
The group discussed the “unique challenges” the United States and the global supply chain for polished diamonds are facing with potential increases of tariffs on diamonds coming into the U.S.
They also talked about the potential to add diamonds to Annex II—part of an executive order for regulating imports which outlines the goods excluded from the baseline 10 percent tariff—as a “critical mineral.”
“Tariffs are a huge concern for the jewelry industry and their full impact on pricing and consumer confidence is yet to be seen. We are aggressively communicating to key members of the Trump administration to ensure the jewelry industry’s voice is heard,” said Bonaparte.
“We had a constructive exchange of views and had an opportunity to express the industry’s concern about the effect of tariffs on our members. We are hopeful for a favorable outcome.”
Related stories will be right here …
On Aug. 19, they met with Dr. Peter Navarro, senior counselor for trade and manufacturing to President Donald Trump and his senior staff.
Bonaparte was joined by Tim Haake of Haake & Associates, JA's government affairs firm, and Ronnie VanderLinden, president of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA).
The group discussed the “unique challenges” the United States and the global supply chain for polished diamonds are facing with potential increases of tariffs on diamonds coming into the U.S.
They also talked about the potential to add diamonds to Annex II—part of an executive order for regulating imports which outlines the goods excluded from the baseline 10 percent tariff—as a “critical mineral.”
“Tariffs are a huge concern for the jewelry industry and their full impact on pricing and consumer confidence is yet to be seen. We are aggressively communicating to key members of the Trump administration to ensure the jewelry industry’s voice is heard,” said Bonaparte.
“We had a constructive exchange of views and had an opportunity to express the industry’s concern about the effect of tariffs on our members. We are hopeful for a favorable outcome.”
In May, JA delivered the position paper titled “The Impact of Broad Tariffs on the U.S. Jewelry Industry” to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Dr. Navarro.
The paper outlined how tariffs are having a negative impact on members and the industry at large.
JA is requesting its members share how the tariffs are impacting their businesses by visiting the Legislative Action Center on its website to submit specific concerns in writing to President Trump and legislative representatives.
To learn more about JA’s advocacy efforts and to join JA, visit the organization’s website.
For further information, contact JA Member Services at 800-223-0673 or members@jewelers.org.
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