Final USITC Report on Chinese Quartz Imports June 2019 | Page 20
Section 301 tariff treatment
Pursuant to notices issued by USTR and published in the Federal Register under section
301 to the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, products of China provided for in all of the tariff
provisions enumerated in this paragraph are subject to additional duties of 25 percent ad
valorem under heading 9903.88.03, when exported on or after May 10, 2019; such products
exported before May 10, 2019 and entered for Customs purposes before June 1, 2019 (as of the
date of preparation of this report) continue to be assessed an additional duty of 10 percent ad
valorem under heading 9903.88.09. 24
THE PRODUCT
Description and applications
Quartz surface products are a compacted stone composite building material used for
countertop surfaces or aesthetic accents in residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
Quartz surface products compete with quarried natural stone products, such as granite or
marble. 25 Demand for quartz surface products has grown due to its improved aesthetic appeal,
durability, stain and scratch resistance, heat tolerance, and anti-microbial properties compared
to granite and marble surface products. 26 The visual appearance of quartz surface products has
24
Possible Modifications to the International Harmonized System Nomenclature, 84 FR 13607, April 3,
2019, Notice of Modification of Section 301 Action: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to
Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 84 FR 20549, May 9, 2019, and Notice of
Modification of Section 301 Action: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer,
Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 84 FR 7966, March 5, 2019.
25
Hearing transcript, p. 57 (Scoggin); p. 65 (Stewart); p. 87 (Davis); p. 179 (Morici); p. 188 (Keck); and
p. 198 (Shah).
26
Hearing transcript, p. 57 (Scoggin); p. 188 (Keck); p. 317 (Yoltay); and Silestone, "Quartz vs Granite
Countertops," https://www.silestoneusa.com/quartz-vs-granite-countertops/ (accessed May 15, 2019).
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