Jewelers of America Advocates in Washington D.C. for Industry Concerns

Jewelers of America (JA), recently visited Washington, D.C. to discuss the implementation plans for import restrictions on Russian diamonds into the United States with top lawmakers. 

Leading the delegation was JA President & CEO David J. Bonaparte, accompanied by key industry figures such as Jon Bridge of Ben Bridge Jeweler, Dave Meleski of Richline Group, Matthew Swibel of Signet Jewelers, and Ronnie VanderLinden of the Diamond Manufacturers Importers Association of America.

Advocacy Efforts

Advocacy and lobbying are central to JA’s mission to ensure consumer confidence and protect the U.S. retail jewelry industry. The organization supports measures to exclude Russian diamonds from the supply chain, emphasizing compliance with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol requirements effective since March 1. However, JA expressed concerns over a proposed European Union system that mandates physical verification and certification of all rough diamonds through Belgium, fearing significant disruptions to the global supply chain.

David J. Bonaparte emphasized the importance of minimizing industry disruptions: “JA has been working tirelessly behind the scenes and this visit to Washington, D.C. was a critical step to ensure we minimize unnecessary disruptions to the U.S. diamond industry. We are very concerned about the additional requirements that could take effect on September 1 – including adopting a European Union proposal that would force all G7/U.S.-bound diamonds of a half a carat and above through a single import channel in Belgium.”

Legislative Meetings

The JA delegation engaged with numerous lawmakers from both parties, focusing on committees overseeing trade issues. The discussions addressed potential supply chain disruptions and increased consumer costs resulting from the proposed September 1 import requirements. The delegation highlighted several key issues:

• The financial and operational burdens posed by the G7/EU proposal for a single import channel through Belgium.
• The necessity of a “grandfathering” clause for diamonds and diamond jewelry imported before March 1, 2024, to protect existing inventories and consumer-held assets.
• The benefits of current attestation and certification systems at the producer country level.
• The need for clarification that import restrictions on one-carat diamonds apply to individual, loose diamonds, not the total weight in finished jewelry.

A Call to Action for Our Industry

JA urged its members to use the Legislative Action Center to voice their concerns to Congress regarding the proposed September 1 restrictions, which are deemed too stringent and potentially damaging to U.S. jewelry businesses.

Future Events

JA announced its annual fly-in on September 18, 2024, providing members an opportunity to discuss these issues with congressional representatives. Additionally, a Multifaceted Learning Workshop will be held on September 17 at the Army Navy Club.

For more information on JA’s advocacy efforts and to access guidance documents, visit www.jewelers.org or contact Jewelers of America’s Member Services at (800) 223-0673 or members@jewelers.org.