ITC safeguard investigation into quartz surface products
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) submitted a report to the President on May 18, 2026, following a Section 202 safeguard investigation (TA-201-79) into quartz surface products. The investigation was initiated after a properly filed petition received on November 17, 2025. The report's full text is available on the USITC website, with confidential business information redacted.
Photo: Snejina NIkolova / PexelsSection 202 Safeguard Investigation Announced for Quartz Surface Products
On May 21, 2026, the Federal Register published a summary of the US International Trade Commission's report on investigation No. TA-201-79 concerning quartz surface products, submitted to the President on May 18, 2026.
Section 202(f)(3) of the Trade Act of 1974 requires that the United States International Trade Commission publish in the Federal Register a summary of each report that it submits to the President under section 202(f)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974.
The ITC conducted the investigation under Section 202(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 following receipt of a petition that was deemed properly filed on November 17, 2025. Section 202 safeguard investigations are initiated when domestic industries petition the Commission, claiming that an article is being imported in such increased quantities that it is causing or threatening to cause serious injury to the competing domestic industry.
Quartz surface products—engineered countertops and surfaces manufactured from quartz aggregates—are used in residential and commercial construction. The investigation determines whether increased imports are causing serious injury and, if so, recommends remedies such as tariffs, quotas, or other trade relief measures to the President.
The full text of the Commission's report is available on the USITC website at https://www.usitc.gov, with the exception of confidential business information that has been withheld from public disclosure.
What this means for shippers
If the President accepts the ITC's recommendation, tariffs or import quotas on quartz surface products could be imposed within months. Importers and freight forwarders handling these products must monitor the outcome closely and prepare for potential duty increases or volume restrictions. Check the USITC website regularly for the final determination and any announced remedies, as tariff rates and thresholds may change quickly once a safeguard is imposed.
