Radio Stone Update
Radio Stone Update
Tariffs Still Hard-Surface Issue After Supreme Court Ruling
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00:00 Brought to You by TAB Quartz
00:19 Intro
00:29 US Supreme Court and Tariffs: What Now?
03:48 A Word from TAB Quartz
04:58 OSHA Plans Major Cuts in Inspections
06:23 KBIS/IBS Draws 110,000+
08:04 ISFA Fabricator Forum Next Month in Atlanta
09:00 ISFA Names Education Chief
10:52 Virginia Black: NSI Stone for 2026
11:55 NSI Releases State of Silica Report
13:50 Key Buyers Still Wanted in Xiamen
14:55 Outro
15:22 Brought to You by TAB Quartz
Radio Stone Update is presented on the second and fourth Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.
00:19
K. SCHIPPER: Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard-surfaces news from Radio Stone Update. Joining me today is Emerson Schwartzkopf, editor and publisher of Stone Update and Hard-Surface Report, to offer some insight on what the Supreme Court ruling voiding President Trump’s tariffs will mean for the hard surfaces industry.
00:29
EMERSON SCHWARTZKOPF: After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s use of federal tariff law last week, the basic question is: What happens next for hard-surface imports? There is still plenty of uncertainty, but one thing’s for sure: Extra tariffs aren’t going away anytime soon.
The 6-3 decision by the high court last Friday ends the various levels of tariffs the president imposed using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The court’s ruling, in plain speaking, points out that IEEPA doesn’t mention tariffs, and that the U.S. Congress holds the ultimate authority on creating new tariffs, and not the president.
Less than 24 hours after the court decision, however, the add-on tariffs came back – at least in part – under different statutes. The president set a 10% overall tariff last Friday night, which he hiked to 15% the next morning, under laws passed by Congress more than 50 years ago.
These are temporary and expire in 150 days and will also face a legal challenge of the president’s actions. However, it’s certain that the president will ask the U.S. International Trade Commission, or USITC to authorize more-permanent Section 301 tariffs for specific countries and/or goods.
The Supreme Court sidestepped any mention of possible refunds of the IEEPA tariffs collected since late last April, since that’s the subject of lawsuits already filed in lower federal courts.
With the issue still in legal limbo, those tariffs will remain as part of the cost of slabs and other materials imported before the high court’s ruling.
And those tariffs impacted hard-surface imports. Our sister publication Hard-Surface Report notes that the calculated duties on hard-surfaces last year from January through November (the latest month available for data) came to $541 million dollars, a gain of more than 150 %.
Much of that total came from imports of quartz surfaces, which came into the United States duty-free until last April. A prime example is the Czech Republic, where quartz surfaces comprise nearly all the surfaces going to the United States.
In January-November 2024, the country’s hard-surface tariffs totaled 891 dollars; for the same time last year, the bill came to slightly more than one million dollars.
The Supreme Court ruling doesn’t affect the “safeguard” action proposed by several U.S. quartz-surface manufacturers last fall. The USITC held a hearing on that proposal this week.
K. SCHIPPER: Thank you, Emerson.
04:58
Figures from the U.S. Department of Labor show that inspections by OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Administration) dropped significantly over the second half of the previous fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30.
The data shows that between April and September 2024 there were almost 30,000 inspections, compared with 23,531 during the same time frame last year. In its 2026 budget, the administration is proposing 24,929 inspections for the entire fiscal year.
The figures also showed 42% fewer “willful violations,” a category that carries some of the highest penalties for employers.
The data, which was released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and reported by the New York Times comes on top of efforts by the Trump administration to pull back regulations while closing OSHA offices.
The Labor Department has also said it plans to roll back requirements to ease evaluation mandates for protective equipment for workers exposed to dangerous chemicals and to provide appropriate lighting at construction sites.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) has been advocating legislation to abolish OSHA and reintroduced such a measure last year, but it found no co-sponsors.
06:23
The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) wrapped up its 2026 show Feb. 19 in Orlando, Fla., and organizers of the show, which shares space with the International Builders Show (IBS), deemed the event a huge success.
KBIS is owned by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and produced by Emerald Expositions. The IBS is owned by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The combination of the two shows creates Design & Construction Week (DCW).
The three-day shows offer a combination of product introductions, demonstrations, networking and educational programming. Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of NKBA/KBIS believes the shows’ success was a reflection on what he called the remarkable vitality of the kitchen and bath industry.
“As shared at our annual State of the Association meeting, the industry is poised for a strong outlook and the consistent feedback we received from attendees was that KBIS reignited enthusiasm for the future,” Darcy says.
Stretched across more than one million square feet, the combined shows drew 117,000 registrants and 2,250 exhibitors.
Brian Pagel, executive vice president of Emerald, which produces KBIS, echoed Darcy when he said, “…this year’s exhibitors showcased the strength and evolution shaping the industry.”
Next year, KBIS and Design & Construction Week will be held Feb. 2-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and will again co-locate with the International Builders’ Show.
08:04
The first Fabricator Forum of 2026 presented by the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), will be held March 11-12 in the Atlanta area.
This reimagined event is designed specifically for shop floor and lead fabricators; operations managers, and; owners and executives, and will take place at the facilities of host sponsor GranQuartz in Suwanee, Ga.
As part of the program, a shop tour of Construction Resources in Decatur, Ga., is included.
The fabricator forum is designed to be an open, peer-to-peer environment, where fabricators can come together to discuss issues such as safety and compliance, workforce challenges, licensing, standards, and advocacy.
To register, go to https://isfanow.org/events/fabricator-forum --- atlanta-ga.
09:00
In other ISFA news, solid surface industry veteran Aaron Davis is the group’s first Chief of Education. The newly created executive position will accelerate the ISFA’s national growth strategy and workforce development initiatives.
In his new role, Davis will lead the development of ISFA’s regional training structure, build out a product-specific national trainer network, and spearhead the creation of future apprenticeship programs designed to support the countertop and surface fabrication industries directly in their shops.
Davis is recognized as a leading technical expert. He has played a key role in delivering advanced technical solutions, supporting research-and-development initiatives and ensuring fabrication and installation processes meet the highest industry standards.
He also has a reputation for translating complex technical concepts into practical, hands-on instruction.
ISFA President Travis McDermott expressed strong support for Davis, saying he has been an integral part of education and training for ISFA as long as the organization has been around.
“For Aaron to join us at this time demonstrates his belief in the direction we are going. It also reinforces what ISFA stands for; all products are created equal,” McDermott says.
The move is part of an aggressive, forward-focused plan to strengthen the organization’s education infrastructure and advance the development of the 2026 Countertop and Surface Fabrication Licensing Standard. A pilot program for the industry-led model will take place later this year in California.
ISFA is also recruiting a National Safety, Health and Regulatory Compliance Director and a Region 9 (California) Executive Director. These positions are critical for ensuring ISFA meets the key performance indicators established under its Fabricator Safety Initiative 4 and successfully implements the California pilot program.
For more information about ISFAs education initiatives and the 2026 Licensing Standard, go to www.isfanow.org/about-isfa.
10:52
The Natural Stone Institute unveiled its 2026 Stone of the Year. This year’s honoree is Virginia Black granite from Gramazini.
Quarried in its namesake state, Virginia Black features an imposing aesthetic and high technical performance. With a deep black tone and homogeneous texture, the material conveys sophistication, modernity, and timeless appeal, making it a striking choice for high-end architectural projects.
Renowned for its high resistance, durability, and stability, Virginia Black is suitable for both interior and exterior applications, including flooring, wall cladding, countertops, and façades. Its mineral composition ensures excellent performance even in high-traffic areas, along with long-term ease of maintenance.
As part of the Gramazini portfolio, Virginia Black undergoes rigorous selection and processing standards, ensuring consistent quality and uniformity, adding character and aesthetic value to the most demanding environments.
11:55
The Natural Stone Institute (NSI) recently released State of Silica Safety: 2024-25 Progress Report & 2026 Roadmap.
The document outlines industry action taken over the past two years to protect workers, strengthen safety practices and respond to changing regulatory and legal environments related to respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
The report shows progress made through strengthened scientific and medical expertise, greater education and training, improved regulatory engagement and continued advocacy.
In collaboration with the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), NSI also secured a partnership with Yale School of Medicine, delivering comprehensive, science-driven guidance documents specific to stone fabrication environments.
The State of Silica Safety report also highlights education efforts, including national webinars, in-person and online training that has directly reached more than 2,000 stone professionals, and the promotion of the NSI’s Silica Training Certificate Program, which is available in both English and Spanish.
The report also details stronger relationships with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulatory and public health agencies, as well as continued advocacy for eliminating dry cutting, improved housekeeping practices and expanded air sampling and employee medical surveillance.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Roadmap details plans to complete a medical surveillance study with Yale School of Medicine, conduct a new economic impact study related to OSHA and Mine Safety and Health Administration compliance, expand legislative and legal advocacy efforts and launch additional silica-focused training courses.
To download a copy of the report, go to www.naturalstoneinstitute.org
13:50
Organizers of the 26th China Xiamen International Stone Fair remind attendees it’s not too late to sign up for the Key Buyer Program.
Designed for industry leaders and key decision makers, including buyers, traders, distributors, architects and designers, this exclusive program is tailored to enhance the sourcing experience before, during and after the event, which this year will be held March 16-19.
Whether you’re looking for trusted suppliers, the right products or a made-to-order solution, the Key Buyer Program will provide personalized services such as year-round sourcing support from now through the 2027 show; smart route planning during the show, which features more than 2,000 suppliers across just over 2 million ft2; reserved seating at forums, seminars and product launches held during the fair, and; travel and hospitality services with special hotel rates, shuttle services and visa application support.
For more information on the Key Buyer Program, to go info@stonefair.org.cn.
14:55
Remember, our online newsletter, Slab & Sheet, is available on alternate Wednesdays. For a text of today’s broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update, and we’ll see you here again soon.