The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has secured a major victory with the elimination of the 15% US import duty on natural polished diamonds originating from Europe. Under a recent US executive order—applied retroactively from September 1—EU-polished diamonds will now enter duty-free, reinforcing Antwerp’s standing as a leading global hub for diamond trading and polishing.
This exemption is the result of extensive talks between the European Commission and the US, which covered multiple sectors including metals, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Diamonds polished in Antwerp are now formally listed in “Annex II” of the trade agreement.
With Antwerp exporting around USD 2.1 billion worth of polished diamonds annually to the US, the tariff cut marks a significant gain. “For European-origin goods polished in Antwerp—which make up half of all polished diamond exports to the US—the 15% tariff no longer applies,” said AWDC CEO Karen Rentmeesters.
She added that this move sets an important precedent: “It paves the way for other diamond-producing and polishing nations to negotiate similar deals. Achieving a global zero-tariff regime for diamonds would be especially valuable for Belgian diamantaires, who often trade stones polished in India.”
AWDC also expressed gratitude to the Belgian government and the European Commission for their support. Rentmeesters emphasized, “We showed that a 15% duty brought no advantage to the US market, which depends entirely on imports to satisfy demand. This decision highlights the strategic weight our governments place on Belgium’s diamond sector.”