Frequently Asked Questions

Import tariffs, also known as import duties or customs duties, are taxes imposed by a government on imported goods.

They are typically calculated as a percentage of the product's value and can vary depending on the type of product and its country of origin.

The import duties are paid by the importer and may be fully or partially passed on to the end customer.

Tariff Update for the Diamond Industry – April 10, 2025 
 

President Trumps update on the US Tariff Framework:  

• 90 day pause on 'reciprocal' tariffs  
• Universal 10% tariff now applies to imports from all countries* 
   

*Exceptions:  

• China faces 125% tariff on all goods
• Mexico and Canada: exempt from the 10%—but most goods from these countries still face a 25% tariff, unless compliant with US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
• Sector-specific tariffs still apply regardless of trade agreements 
   

What this means for (Belgian) diamond traders:

• Canadian rough sent to Belgium, then re-exported to the US, qualifies as Canadian origin (25% tariff applies, not USMCA-exempt)
• Canadian rough, polished in Canada, exported to the US, qualifies as Canadian origin (0% tariff applies, USMCA-exempt)
• Polished diamonds from Belgium (regardless of origin) = 10% import tariff when entering the US
• Rough diamonds from any country (except Canada) sent to the US, even if transiting through another country = 10% tariff when entering the US
• Diamonds of Chinese origin face 125% tariff 

No, the country specific or reciprocal tariff would replace the blanket tariff, however, at the moment for most countries this is now 10%. 
 

Phases:  

1. Thursday, April 3 2025: 0% Import tariffs
2. Saturday, April 5, 2025 onwards: 10% minimum on all goods

3. Wednesday, April 9, 2025 onwards: UPDATE

    

Tariff Update for the Diamond Industry – April 10, 2025 

President Trumps update on the US Tariff Framework: 

• 90 day pause on 'reciprocal' tariffs 
• Universal 10% tariff now applies to imports from all countries* 
   

*Exceptions:

1. China faces 125% tariff on all goods 
2. Mexico and Canada: exempt from the 10%—but most goods from these countries still face a 25% tariff, unless compliant with US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) 
3. Sector-specific tariffs still apply regardless of trade agreements 
    

What this means for (Belgian) diamond traders (practical examples): 
 

1. Canadian rough sent to Belgium, then re-exported to the US, qualifies as Canadian origin (25% tariff applies, not USMCA-exempt) 
    
2. Canadian rough, polished in Canada, exported to the US, qualifies as Canadian origin (0% tariff applies, USMCA-exempt) 
    
3. Non-Canadian rough, polished in Canada and then exported to the US will qualify for a 25% tariff (non-USMCA-exempt)
    
4. Rough diamonds from any country (except Canada) sent to the US, even if transiting through another country = 10% tariff when entering the US 
    
5. Polished diamonds from Belgium (regardless of origin) = 10% import tariff when entering the US 
    
6. Polished diamonds from any country (except China & Canada), regardless of origin, will incur a 10% import tariff when entering the US market 
    
7. Diamonds of Chinese origin face 125% tariff

Global trade rules determine the origin of diamonds as follows: 

Rough diamonds: The country where the stone was mined is considered its country of origin. 

Practical: A rough diamond from a mine in Canada is therefore classified as a Canadian product and has been subject to President Trump's 25% import tariffs on Canadian goods since March 4. 

Practical: A rough diamond mined in Canada, purchased by a Belgian company, and subsequently sent to the US—for example, for a DOR Report by GIA—falls under these import tariffs, meaning the recipient will have to pay a 25% import duty, as the diamond remains in its rough form (Origin: Canada). 

Polished diamonds: The country where the diamond was processed/polished (WTO rules on “substantial transformation*”) is considered its country of origin. 

Practical: A rough diamond from a mine in Canada that was sent to India for manufacturing is now considered an Indian diamond. If this diamond is then sent to the US, the recipient will, as of April 9, 2025**, have to pay a 10% import duty. 

Practical: A rough diamond from a mine in Canada, polished in Canada, remains a Canadian diamond. If this diamond is then sent to the US, the import duty is 0% as the diamond is USMCA compliant. 

*In WTO rules, "substantial transformation" determines a product's origin when it's not wholly obtained in a single country, meaning the country where the last significant manufacturing or processing occurred, giving the product its essential character, is considered the origin.

** US Import Tariffs is now 10% for almost all countries (90 day pause for country-specific/reciprocal tariffs): 
 

• China faces 125% tariff on all goods
• Mexico and Canada: exempt from the 10%—but most goods from these countries still face a 25% tariff, unless compliant with US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
• Sector-specific tariffs still apply regardless of trade agreements 

Yes. 

Currently all goods imported into the US will be subject to the import tariffs, regardless of their final purpose or destination—whether for sale, consignment, or grading. 

Examples: 

Example: GIA polished certificate: 
Polished diamond from Belgium/India/Dubai -> purchased in Belgium/India/Dubai -> Grading US
Polished diamond price + 10% (Origin: Belgium/India/Dubai) 

Example: GIA polished certificate: 
Polished diamond from China -> purchased in Belgium/India/Dubai -> Grading US
Polished diamond price + 125% (Origin: China) 

Example: GIA polished certificate: 
Rough diamond from Canada, polished in Canada -> Grading US
Polished diamond price + 0% (Origin: Canada) - USMCA-exempt

Example: DOR (Diamond Origin Report) Report GIA rough: 
Rough diamond from Canada -> purchased in Belgium -> Grading US 
Rough diamond (price) + 25% (Origin: Canada) - not USMCA-exempt

Example: DOR (Diamond Origin Report) Report GIA rough: 
Rough diamond from Lesotho/Angola/Botswana -> purchased in Belgium -> Grading US 
Rough diamond (price) + 10% (Origin: Lesotho/Angola/Botswana)  

Yes, in this case, as the diamond was manufactured in India, it is considered an Indian diamond, and therefore the 10% import tariff would apply. 

Example: Rough diamond from Botswana -> Manufactured in India -> Traded in Belgium -> US 
Polished diamond (price) + 10% (Origin: India)

Yes, given that the transformation of the diamond (manufacturing) took place in India, the diamond carries an Indian origin and as such the 10% tariff will have to be applied when exporting these diamond from Dubai to the US. 

The tariff rate of the UAE (which is also 10%) will not be applicable, as the origin of the diamond is not Emirati but Indian. 

Example: Rough diamond from Botswana -> Manufactured in India -> Traded in Dubai -> US 
Polished diamond (price) + 10% import tariff (Origin: India)

At the moment we have no clarity on this situation, as soon as we know more, we will update this page.

Yes, in this case tariff is applied based on the mining country. Even if the diamond in its rough form first passed through another country, but remained in its rough form, the country of origin (mining country) tariffs apply.

Rough from all countries (except Canada) carries a 10% import duty. 
Canadian rough carries a 25% import duty (not USMCA-exempt) 

EXAMPLES: 

Example: Rough diamond from Botswana -> US 
Rough diamond (price) + 10% (Origin: Botswana)

Example: Rough diamond from Lesotho -> traded in Antwerp -> US 
Rough diamond (price) + 10% (Origin: Lesotho)

Example: Rough diamond from Canada -> traded in Antwerp -> US 
Rough diamond (price) + 25% (Origin: Canada) - not USMCA-exempt

This differs in the following circumstances:

1. Rough diamonds from Canada are subject to a 25% import tariff.
2. Canadian diamonds polished in Canada are exempt from the 25% tariff, as they are USMCA compliant = 0% 
   
    
3. Canadian rough diamonds polished abroad (e.g., Belgium, Dubai, India - NOT China) are subject to tariffs based on the country of manufacture = 10% 
4. Canadian rough diamonds polished in China are subject to a 125% import tariff

Since Canadian rough diamonds are subject to an import tariff of 25%, GIA advises you to send these rough diamonds to their other offices that offer the DOR service. 

You can still send Canadian rough diamonds to the US, but the 25% tariff applies. 
If the diamonds remain rough and originate from Canada, the import tariff is 25%, regardless of where they are sent from.

 DOR (Diamond Origin Report) Report GIA rough: 

Canada
Example: Rough diamond from Canada -> purchased in Belgium -> Grading US 
Rough diamond (price) + 25% (Origin: Canada)

All other producing countries: 
Example: Rough diamond from Lesotho -> purchased in Belgium -> Grading US 
Rough diamond (price) + 10% (Origin: Lesotho)

10% baseline tariff 

In a background call before Trump's speech, a senior White House official told reporters that the president would impose a "baseline" tariff on all imports to the US. 
That rate is set at 10% and will go into effect on 5 April. 

Some countries will only face the base rate. These include: 
United Kingdom, Singapore, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Colombia, Argentina, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia  

For US tariff purposes, Hong Kong is considered part of China and thus subject to import tariff of 34%.

Yes, the tariff is determined by the country of origin (COO) rather than the country of export.

Polished diamonds: The country where the diamond was polished (transformed) is considered its country of origin.

Example: Rough diamond from Botswana -> Manufactured in India -> Traded in Antwerp -> US
1ct polished diamond (price) + 27% import tariff (Origin: India)
 

An exemption may be possible, but confirmation depends on the exact wording of the executive orders. In previous executive orders concerning tariffs on Mexico, China, and Canada, repairs were exempted from tariffs. 

We will need to wait for the text of the current orders to determine if the same exemptions apply in this case.

Currently, import tariffs are already in place for Canadian products. Rough diamonds mined in Canada (origin: Canada) and sent to the US—whether for sale or to obtain a Diamond Origin Report from GIA (from any country)—are subject to a 25% import tariff.

We are in close contact with the GIA NY team, and as soon as we have additional information, we will update this page. Several Belgian diamond companies actively trade in rough Canadian diamonds and are already experiencing the impact of these tariffs.

Since tariffs are based on the country of origin rather than the country of export, routing through Dubai wouldn’t necessarily provide an advantage.

All products (including second-hand fine jewellery) are subject to the new import tariff. At the moment there are no exceptions.

No. There is an import duty to the US, if goods are leaving the US, there are no tariffs upon return to the EU. If something changes, we will update this FAQ.

Tariffs are based on the declared value of the shipment and depend on where the product was manufactured, not where it was shipped from.

UPDATE 7 April, 2025: 

Yes; 

Effective immediately, GIA laboratories will resume accepting submissions for items outside local service criteria. We will also temporarily expand our services in Dubai and Hong Kong for direct client submissions and shipments.

For clients located outside the United States, we have expanded the scope of our services for the GIA laboratories outside the United States.

• D-to-Z diamonds, rough* or polished, up to 3.99 cts may be submitted to the GIA laboratories in Bangkok, Dubai, Gaborone, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Surat, and Tokyo.
• D-to-Z diamonds, rough* or polished, up to 9.99 cts may be submitted to the GIA laboratories in Dubai and Hong Kong.
• D-to-Z diamonds, rough* or polished, 10 cts and above and fancy color diamonds may be submitted to the GIA laboratory in Hong Kong until further notice.

*Rough diamond submissions are subject to the Kimberley Process Certification rules in each country; rough diamonds cannot be shipped to the GIA laboratory in Dubai.

Clients in the United States or clients outside the United States submitting goods with a United States country of origin may continue to submit all diamonds, colored stones and pearls - of any size - to the New York and Carlsbad laboratories.

Per the terms of the GIA client agreement and as stated in the email sent last week, the submitting client is responsible for paying any bills issued by a shipper or U.S. government agency related to tariffs.

Source: GIA

Update – April 7, 2025:  

Yes; 

Effective immediately, GIA laboratories will resume accepting submissions for items outside local service criteria. We will also temporarily expand our services in Dubai and Hong Kong for direct client submissions and shipments.

For clients located outside the United States, we have expanded the scope of our services for the GIA laboratories outside the United States.

• D-to-Z diamonds, rough* or polished, up to 3.99 cts may be submitted to the GIA laboratories in Bangkok, Dubai, Gaborone, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Surat, and Tokyo.
   
• D-to-Z diamonds, rough* or polished, up to 9.99 cts may be submitted to the GIA laboratories in Dubai and Hong Kong.
   
• D-to-Z diamonds, rough* or polished, 10 cts and above and fancy color diamonds may be submitted to the GIA laboratory in Hong Kong until further notice.

*Rough diamond submissions are subject to the Kimberley Process Certification rules in each country; rough diamonds cannot be shipped to the GIA laboratory in Dubai.

Clients in the United States or clients outside the United States submitting goods with a United States country of origin may continue to submit all diamonds, colored stones and pearls - of any size - to the New York and Carlsbad laboratories.

Per the terms of the GIA client agreement and as stated in the email sent last week, the submitting client is responsible for paying any bills issued by a shipper or U.S. government agency related to tariffs.

Source: GIA

Update – April 7, 2025:  

Per the terms of the GIA client agreement the submitting client is responsible for paying any bills issued by a shipper or U.S. government agency related to tariffs.

Source: GIA
 

If GIA receives such a bill, they will charge the amount back to the submitting client.

You should contact your local GIA Client Service Representative. 

No, we are pleased to share that the European Council has decided not to impose retaliatory tariffs on these imports.

There are currently no EU import tariffs on polished diamonds exported from the United States to Belgium. 

This important decision follows several weeks of intensive lobbying by AWDC and strong support from the Belgian government. It highlights the EU’s recognition of the strategic importance of the diamond sector in Belgium and its commitment to safeguarding free trade in diamonds.

No, you won’t have to pay any EU import tariffs. The European Council has confirmed that polished diamonds exported from the U.S. to Belgium are not subject to retaliatory tariffs. Your shipment can return without additional import duties.