Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods Policies & IssuesJul 24, 2026
New Trump Tariffs: What They Mean for Jewelry
The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. Trade Representative announced a new sweeping slate of tariffs on 60 countries Thursday night with rates ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent. Key exemptions for the jewelry industry include precious metals as well as diamonds imported from the European Union.
Washington, D.C.—A new set of tariffs went into effect at midnight today on imports from 60 countries the Trump administration said did not do enough to curb the presence of “forced labor” in their supply chains.
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the new tariffs Thursday night, just as the temporary 10 percent across-the-board tariffs imposed in February were set to expire.
According to a trade alert from the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, rates range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent and exclude precious metals (in raw or semi-manufactured form) and, for some countries, loose natural diamonds and colored gemstones, and natural pearls.
Lab-grown diamonds are not on the exemption list.
Countries whose imports will be taxed at 10 percent include the following: Canada (excluding goods that are duty-free under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA), India, Mexico (excluding USMCA goods), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom.
While diamonds technically are exempt from the 10 percent tariff under USMCA, President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that beginning in mid-August, a wide range of Canadian imports, including loose polished diamonds, will be hit with a 50 percent tariff because of what he views as the country’s unfair trade practices.
Goods from the European Union and Taiwan will be taxed at a minimum of 10 percent; the import tax on products with an existing most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff will be higher, with the new 10 percent tariff stacking on top of the MFN tariff.
According to JVC, countries whose imports will taxed at 12.5 percent include the following: Angola, Australia, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
Goods from Switzerland, Japan, and South Korea will be taxed at a minimum of 12.5 percent; the import tax on products with a most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff will be higher, with the new 12.5 percent tariff stacking on top of the existing MFN tariff.
Brazil is also on the 12.5 percent tariff list, which will be added onto the 25 percent tariff announced earlier this week, for a total rate of 37.5 percent.
Rough gemstones imported from Brazil are exempt.
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the new tariffs Thursday night, just as the temporary 10 percent across-the-board tariffs imposed in February were set to expire.
According to a trade alert from the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, rates range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent and exclude precious metals (in raw or semi-manufactured form) and, for some countries, loose natural diamonds and colored gemstones, and natural pearls.
Lab-grown diamonds are not on the exemption list.
Countries whose imports will be taxed at 10 percent include the following: Canada (excluding goods that are duty-free under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA), India, Mexico (excluding USMCA goods), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom.
While diamonds technically are exempt from the 10 percent tariff under USMCA, President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that beginning in mid-August, a wide range of Canadian imports, including loose polished diamonds, will be hit with a 50 percent tariff because of what he views as the country’s unfair trade practices.
Goods from the European Union and Taiwan will be taxed at a minimum of 10 percent; the import tax on products with an existing most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff will be higher, with the new 10 percent tariff stacking on top of the MFN tariff.
According to JVC, countries whose imports will taxed at 12.5 percent include the following: Angola, Australia, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
Goods from Switzerland, Japan, and South Korea will be taxed at a minimum of 12.5 percent; the import tax on products with a most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff will be higher, with the new 12.5 percent tariff stacking on top of the existing MFN tariff.
Brazil is also on the 12.5 percent tariff list, which will be added onto the 25 percent tariff announced earlier this week, for a total rate of 37.5 percent.
Rough gemstones imported from Brazil are exempt.
Under the new tariff structure, rough diamonds and loose polished diamonds imported from the European Union are exempt, as are rough and polished loose colored gemstones and natural pearls that are either loose or “temporarily strung for convenience of transport.”
In a statement circulated Friday, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre called the exemption “significant news” for the city.
AWDC and the European Commission successfully lobbied for an exemption for diamonds last fall, but that exemption was undone in February when the Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s IEEPA tariffs were illegal and the administration responded by enacting new tariffs.
“The restored zero percent exemption once again makes it more attractive to have natural diamonds cut in Europe,” AWDC CEO Karen Rentmeesters said in a press release.
“Antwerp has a unique combination of specialized know-how, high-tech cutting capacity, and access to an international network of diamond companies.”
In addition to the EU, the countries granted an exemption for loose natural diamonds, gemstones, and pearls are: Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jordan, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
There is also a long list of exemptions for silver, gold, platinum, and palladium imported from all 60 countries.
A full list of exempt products organized by their 10-digit HTS numbers is available here.
The new tariffs are the result of USTR’s investigation into “forced labor” practices in 60 countries that began immediately after the Supreme Court shot down the IEEPA tariffs.
This new round of tariffs is being enacted under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
As JVC noted in its alert, the expiration of the temporary 10 percent tariffs means that the rate falls to zero percent for countries not involved in the forced labor investigation.
They include the following: Afghanistan, Botswana, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
USTR is conducting another section 301 investigation into alleged “overproduction” of certain goods that could result in additional tariffs on 16 countries, including India, China, Thailand, the EU, and Switzerland.
For the latest tariff rates, visit JVC’s Tariff Tracker.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner Collab on Bridal Earrings GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
