GIA U.S. Labs Again Accepting Overseas Gems, but the Stones Can’t Stay

By Rob Bates | May 05, 2025

GIA’s labs in New York City and Carlsbad, Calif., are again accepting shipments from overseas clients, in accordance with Customs programs that allow items to escape import tariffs provided they are in the United States only temporarily.

In a recent email obtained by JCK, leading industry transport company Malca-Amit told customers that “shipments to GIA NYC/Carlsbad can now resume under specific conditions.” The email listed the following conditions:

– All shipments must return to their country of origin within 90 days of entry into the U.S. That means they can’t be sold or traded in the U.S. after they’re graded.

– The shipment must be returned in full, as it was sent. No partial or consolidated returns are allowed.

– If the 90-day limit is exceeded, U.S. Customs will impose a penalty equal to 100% of the stone’s value plus applicable duties, taxes, and tariffs.

– Every shipment to GIA must have insurance coverage for 200% of its value and include applicable tariffs.

– As rough diamonds are still tariffed, they shouldn’t be sent to GIA New York but to GIA Hong Kong or Dubai.

Malca-Amit and Brinks, another shipping company serving the trade, did not respond to JCK’s requests for comment.

In an email sent to the industry on April 29, GIA said its overseas laboratories have “resumed accepting goods according to their local service criteria. All locations outside the United States will also resume accepting items to be shipped to GIA in the U.S.”

It added that GIA’s facilities in Hong Kong and Dubai will continue to service D-to-Z diamonds up to 9.99 cts. GIA implemented that change after the Trump administration announced tariffs on virtually all imported goods on April 2. At the time, GIA advised overseas clients not to send diamonds to its U.S. labs.

Last week’s email said GIA was resuming shipments to the United States because “some courier companies are offering options, including foreign trade zones (FTZ) and temporary import bonds (TIB), for the temporary import of goods into the U.S. and their reexport.”

However, GIA noted, “The use of these options provided by the courier companies, along with any logistics arrangements or other coordination for direct shipments of goods to GIA in the U.S. for GIA laboratory services, is the responsibility of the courier and their customers.”

Tariffs on imported diamonds are generally calculated based on where they were cut, rather than mined. The Antwerp World Diamond Centre has detailed information on how U.S. tariffs affect gems here.

On April 9, the Trump administration placed 10% tariffs on imports from virtually every U.S. trading partner. The 10% levies replaced Trump’s much higher “reciprocal tariffs” that were due to take effect that day but were instead “paused” for 90 days.

There are a few exceptions to the worldwide 10% tariffs: Imports from China are currently taxed at 145%, and all goods that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement are exempt.

(Photo courtesy of GIA)