Tariff update on CULTURED pearls?

[acp-pearls]

Back in September, the AGTA announced an update on tariff relief on natural pearls. Does anyone know if cultured pearls are being considered as well?

AGTA Says Colored Gems and Natural Pearls Are Duty-Free | the Centurion

news.centurionjewelry.com

 

[jshepherd]

I had a call with John Ford of AGTA on Tuesday about the tariff situation. There are some countries that may eventually see relief (China not likely being one of them), but there is a process each needs to go through and it is time consuming. As for now, cultured pearls are not exempt.

 

[acp-pearls]

Thanks for the response, Jeremy. I'm wondering what the Tucson Gem Show will look like if tariffs don't ease soon... February is right around the corner!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I'm wondering what the Tucson Gem Show will look like if tariffs don't ease soon.

If the patterns of tourism and state fairs are indicators, I expect attendance to the show will take a hit.

I know several vendors from Canada who have indicated they will not be attending this year. It's not just tariffs either. Unlawful search, seizure and deportation by ICE is also a grave concern.

 

[SteveM]

My question here is regarding natural pearls from the EU. I.E, whether there is any sort of certification required, and whether mollusk origin outside of Europe is a factor. A flood of "natural pearls", cultured or otherwise, might be on its way soon!

 

[SteveM]

AI risk analysis for inaccurate Customs declarations:

How CBP determines if a pearl is natural

• CBP relies on the importer's diligence. While some high-end labs use X-rays to distinguish between natural and cultured pearls, CBP relies on the importer to exercise "reasonable care" in certifying the product's description. The importer files a claim for preferential tariff treatment and provides the necessary documentation.
• Isotopic testing is a tool, not a universal practice. As a verification tool, CBP may conduct isotopic testing on some imports. However, this is primarily used for targeted enforcement in high-risk supply chains and is not feasible for every single import.
• CBP can perform an origin verification. If there is doubt about the legitimacy of a claim, CBP has the authority to conduct a formal origin verification of the exporter to ensure they meet the rules of the trade agreement.
• Misclassification is an importer's risk. Importers face penalties if they misrepresent the nature of a product to avoid paying tariffs. These penalties can be severe, so it is in the importer's best interest to provide accurate information.

 

[Yens]

I had a call with John Ford of AGTA on Tuesday about the tariff situation. There are some countries that may eventually see relief (China not likely being one of them), but there is a process each needs to go through and it is time consuming. As for now, cultured pearls are not exempt.

AGTA is not willing to talk anything about pearls because 95% of it's members sell color stones. They don't want to risk tariff negotiations on color stones for the few pearl dealers who are members.

Saying the word China (largest FWP producers) is a big NO NO because they don't want to piss off the wrong people.

 

[Yens]

That is the correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code for worked cultured pearls, graded and temporarily strung for convenience of transport.1


Here is the breakdown of the effective tariff rate for this specific product coming from China following the October 30, 2025, Busan summit:

Effective Tariff Rate for HTS 7101.22.3000​

The effective tariff rate is composed of the Normal Column 1 Rate plus all applicable Additional Tariffs (like the Section 301 and Fentanyl-related tariffs).

1. Normal Column 1 Rate (Base Rate):
   
   The standard HTSUS rate for 7101.22.3000 is Free (0%).2 This is the rate for products not subject to trade action tariffs.
2. Trade Action Tariffs (Additional Duties):
   
   Since the pearls are from China, they are subject to at least two key tariffs, which have been modified by the summit agreement:
   
   • The Fentanyl-related Tariff (Executive Order 14256/14266): This tariff was originally 20% on all Chinese goods and was halved to 10% as part of the Busan agreement.3
     
     
     
     
   • The Baseline Reciprocal Tariff (Executive Order 14257/14334): This general tariff on Chinese goods was 10% for many products.
3. Estimated Total Effective Rate:
   
   The trade actions are stacked on top of the base rate.4
   
   $$\text{Total Effective Tariff Rate} = \text{Base Rate} + \text{Fentanyl-related Tariff} + \text{Baseline Reciprocal Tariff}$$
   $$\text{Total Effective Tariff Rate} = 0\% + 10\% + 10\% = \mathbf{20\%}$$

The effective tariff rate for worked cultured pearls (HTS 7101.22.3000) from China is estimated to be 20%. This rate is a reduction from the previous rate which was likely around 30% (0% + 20% + 10%) before the Fentanyl tariff was halved.