OFAC General License 104A Expires September 1, Closing the Import Window for Certain Grandfathered Russian-Origin Diamonds
GL 104A authorizes U.S. imports of 'grandfathered' Russian-origin non-industrial diamonds (1 ct+ located outside Russia since March 1, 2024; 0.5 ct+ since September 1, 2024). The authorization ends at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 1, 2026; unless renewed, imports of those goods into the U.S. will be prohibited.
What this means for you
Identify and document any qualifying grandfathered Russian-origin stones or jewelry intended for the U.S. market, and arrange shipment and entry before the September 1 deadline. Keep location and export-history documentation ready for CBP, and continue filing the required self-certification on every in-scope shipment.
US Section 301 forced-labour tariffs in force: 10% on India, 12.5% on Israel and most other diamond hubs
USTR's final action in its 60 forced-labour Section 301 investigations took effect on 24 July 2026. Goods entered for US consumption from that date carry an additional 10% duty (India, UK, Mexico and others) or 12.5% (Israel, UAE, Hong Kong, Thailand and most hubs), including natural and lab-grown diamonds, gemstones and jewellery. There is no automatic sunset.
What this means for you
Add the new duty to every US-bound quote and invoice from 24 July onward. Recalculate landed cost per origin hub before choosing shipping routes, and review whether existing US supply contracts allocate the added duty to buyer or seller.
EU Due-Diligence Statements became mandatory on 1 January 2026
The transition period is over. Polished diamonds of 0.5ct or more entering the EU now require a due diligence statement with traceability evidence, not only a supplier self-declaration. Customs holds on undocumented parcels have been reported at Antwerp and other entry points.
What this means for you
If you ship to the EU, attach the DDS and chain-of-custody evidence before dispatching each parcel. If goods are already in transit without documentation, flag them to your EU importer now.
G7 reviewing possible extension of origin-declaration rules below 0.5ct
G7 technical teams are consulting on whether to lower the carat threshold for mandatory origin declarations on polished diamonds. This would bring melee-adjacent goods into scope for the first time. No date has been set; industry bodies have been asked for feedback.
What this means for you
No action is required yet. However, if your business is heavy in small goods, start mapping origin documentation for sub-0.5ct inventory so a future rule change does not strand stock.
CBP indefinitely postponed the mandatory country-of-mining declaration
US Customs postponed the ACE "country of mining" data field for diamond imports, originally scheduled for April 2025; official CBP schedules now list the date as TBD. The existing self-certification that imported diamonds 0.5ct+ are not of Russian origin remains fully in force.
What this means for you
Keep filing the non-Russian self-certification on every 0.5ct+ entry, but you do not need to populate a country-of-mining field yet. Keep collecting mining-origin documentation anyway — the requirement is postponed, not cancelled, and ACE will add the field when it activates.
