US Diamond Industry Faces Uncertainty Over New Import Regulations
The diamond industry was stunned by the announcement of new import regulations from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), set to take effect in April 2025. These regulations require the declaration of the "country of mining" for all diamond imports, raising serious concerns about traceability and documentation.
The update emerged quietly in stages, with a notice issued on October 22, 2024, giving the industry a mere 60 days to respond. However, it wasn’t until a letter from shipping company Malca-Amit reached customers in January 2025 that the trade began to take notice. While the full details are still unclear, the new rule has caused a ripple in the diamond industry.
At the core of the confusion is the ambiguity surrounding the carat size threshold and the definition of "country of mining." Although the U.S. banned the import of Russian diamonds in 2024, the details of how this applies to diamonds larger than 0.50 carats are still up for debate.
Importers will now face increased responsibility, with self-certification likely continuing but potentially requiring additional documentation to back up claims. However, what counts as reliable proof—whether it be a Kimberley Process certificate or advanced technology to track a diamond’s origin—remains uncertain.
The lack of clarity has caused legal and regulatory experts, including the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), to call for more precise guidance. JVC has pointed out that the definition of "country of mining" as written in the notice doesn’t accurately reflect the diamond trade’s existing understanding.
This sudden regulatory shift comes as part of the broader global effort to enforce sanctions on Russia and tighten diamond traceability. Major companies like De Beers, known for their advanced tracking systems, seem poised to meet these new requirements more easily, leaving smaller players scrambling for solutions.
As the industry gears up for these changes, the push for better traceability and transparency in diamond sourcing is only expected to grow.