What Trump’s latest safeguard tariff move on quartz surface products means for India
India has initiated consultations with the WTO regarding new U.S. safeguard tariffs of 25% to 55% on quartz surface products. The Indian quartz industry is heavily reliant on the U.S. market, which accounts for over 70% of its exports.
Why it matters
Trade disputes over engineered stone products highlight the economic vulnerability of specific manufacturing sectors in India to U.S. protectionist trade policies.
India has approached the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the Donald Trump administration’s move of announcing safeguard tariffs of 25% to 55% from August 15 for quartz surface products.India approached the WTO on August 14 seeking consultations with Washington under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards. India said it had a “substantial interest” in the measure and sought access to the information provided by the US, an opportunity to discuss the safeguard action and protection of its rights under WTO rules.It has proposed that the discussions be held virtually at a time convenient to both sides, although no date has been finalised.India’s quartz surface products exports to the USThe US accounted for 72.5% of India’s quartz surface-product exports in FY2026, according to a Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) report. During the year, India shipped $233.3 million worth of agglomerated-quartz slabs and certain quartz and glass surface products to the US.
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