Brazilian Natural Stone Association to take part in USTR hearing on proposed tariff measures

On July 6, the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) will participate in the public hearing organized by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to discuss the proposed tariff measures currently under review under Section 301. The association will be represented by its Vice President, Fábio Cruz, in Washington, D.C.

The hearing is part of the Section 301 investigation conducted by the USTR under U.S. trade law. Following the completion of the written submission phase, the process now moves to a public hearing, bringing together representatives from companies, trade associations, confederations, and other organizations interested in presenting their views directly to the U.S. government. A total of 85 participants have been identified for this stage.

Centrorochas’ participation is part of the institutional and industry diplomacy strategy the association has been pursuing since July 2025, when the first proposed tariff measures were announced. Since then, the organization has been working closely with Brazilian companies, U.S. importers, distributors, trade associations, and other American stakeholders to defend the interests of the natural stone supply chain.

During the hearing, the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) will present arguments demonstrating the potential effects of the proposed tariffs on U.S. businesses, jobs, investments, and supply chains, while reinforcing the rationale for excluding Brazilian natural stone products from the proposed measures. Key points include:

• The use of these materials by American companies in downstream processing, fabrication, distribution, and installation
• The lack of equivalent substitutes for many applications
• The potential impacts of the measures on construction and housing costs in the United States

The submission presented by Centrorochas highlights that approximately 99.9% of Brazilian natural stone exports to the United States consist of semi-finished stone slabs used by American companies in fabrication, distribution, and installation activities. In 2025, Brazil exported $795 million (USD) in natural stone to the U.S., its largest international market, totaling approximately 587,000 metric tons of materials primarily used in kitchen and bathroom countertops, wall and floor cladding, and other high-end residential and commercial applications.

The submission presented to the USTR is also supported by key stakeholders across the U.S. natural stone supply chain, including the Natural Stone Institute (NSI), Pacific Shore Stones, a distributor operating 17 locations across six U.S. states, and Quality Marble & Granite, a leading supplier serving Southern California and Arizona. In their statements, these organizations emphasize the lack of equivalent substitutes for many Brazilian natural stone products and warn that the proposed tariffs could increase costs and negatively affect investments throughout the supply chain.

“Brazilian natural stone does not compete with domestic U.S. production—on the contrary, it complements a supply chain that supports jobs, investments, and economic activity across multiple states,” Cruz said. “Excluding our sector from the proposed measures is aligned with the economic interests of the U.S. industry and will help preserve the competitiveness of companies that depend on these materials while avoiding additional costs for consumers.”

About Centrorochas

The Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) is actively involved in all national efforts to increase the competitiveness of the ornamental stone sector. The organization provides direct support for Brazilian companies’ international presence, combining commercial and operational actions to foster the development and growth of the industry.