Here in the U.S, colored gemstones are at the center of a very real political battle.
On April 2, 2025, the U.S. government announced sweeping tariffs that threaten the viability of the American loose colored gemstone trade—raising costs, interfering with supply, and certainly jeopardizing businesses.
In response, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has launched an aggressive lobbying effort in the halls of Congress.
Recognizing that the unique nature of colored stones wasn’t being heard—since these are not critical minerals—AGTA leadership retained one of Washington’s top bipartisan firms, known for their expertise in trade policy, to help make their case.
The goal: Remove or reduce the tariffs before irreparable harm is done.
What followed has been a months-long push, including direct meetings on Capitol Hill, coalition-building with industry allies, and a targeted campaign aimed at senior members of the Trump administration.
In the following letter, published in this week’s AGTA ePrism magazine, AGTA President Bruce Bridges and CEO John W. Ford, Sr. share the latest developments in this high-stakes effort.
If you’re a gem dealer, retailer, appraiser, or anyone who depends on the smooth flow of colored stones into the U.S., their message is one you’ll want to read—and act on.
By Bruce Bridges, AGTA President, and John W. Ford, Sr., AGTA CEO
Dear AGTA Members and Industry Colleagues,
As previously shared, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) responded immediately to the April 2, 2025, announcement of broad tariffs impacting the jewelry industry. We believe these tariffs represent the most serious threat the U.S. loose colored gemstone sector has ever faced.
In response, AGTA’s Board of Directors authorized the engagement of the Washington, D.C.–based lobbying firm Hecht, Latham, Spencer & Associates Inc., a bipartisan team with a strong reputation in trade policy. Their mission: to advocate for the removal or reduction of tariffs that disproportionately harm our membership.
Since April, AGTA has taken decisive action. AGTA has initiated direct outreach to members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to educate lawmakers about AGTA’s distinct role in the industry. Unlike other jewelry sectors, AGTA is a net exporter of loose colored gemstones—contributing positively to the U.S. trade balance. Furthermore, the gemstones that AGTA members import are not geologically available in the U.S., making them essential imports for our industry.
To support our case, AGTA has submitted detailed documentation to the Trump administration, including:
◊ A list of countries from which AGTA members import gemstones.
◊ A breakdown of the critical minerals (gemstones) involved.
◊ A formal request to either reinstate duty-free status for these imports or include them under Annex 11 of the April 2 Executive Order.
AGTA is pursuing this advocacy independently, as our needs are unique and differ from those of the Diamond or finished jewelry sectors. However, in a spirit of transparency and collaboration, we are coordinating with other groups—including De Beers’ Washington, D.C., representatives—to avoid conflicting messages.
AGTA is especially grateful for the support of industry leaders such as Matt Stuller, CEO of AGTA member Stuller Inc., whose ongoing assistance has been vital to our efforts.
During the week of July 14, AGTA leadership was in Washington, D.C., for a full week of meetings with key senators, House members, committee staff from the House Ways and Means Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and representatives from the Trump administration. These meetings laid the groundwork for a coordinated congressional letter campaign urging the administration to end tariffs on loose colored gemstones.
As of today, several members of Congress have personally delivered letters to:
◊ President Donald Trump.
◊ U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
◊ Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
◊ Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.
We expect additional letters from over a dozen more lawmakers to be delivered in the next 30 days. In September, we plan to return to Washington to follow up with in-person meetings with senior administration officials.
This letter campaign—driven by congressional allies with strong ties to the Trump administration—is a cornerstone of our strategy. Senior administration officials have made it clear: this is a decision that will ultimately rest with President Trump, and we must make a compelling case directly to him. Encouragingly, these officials have expressed sympathy for AGTA’s position and provided valuable guidance on how to navigate the process.
We remain committed to keeping the membership informed as we continue our advocacy. While the outcome remains uncertain, one thing is clear: without AGTA’s dedicated efforts, the issue of gemstone tariffs would not be on the radar of Congress, the Senate, or the administration.
We thank you for your continued support and will provide further updates following our return to Washington this September.
Sincerely,
Bruce Bridges, President, AGTA — John W. Ford, Sr., CEO, AGTA
Tap here to go directly to the AGTA website where you can read more about AGTA’s efforts.
