DiamondBuzz
EU opts against tariffs on US Diamonds
In a welcome move for Belgium’s diamond industry, the European Council has officially decided not to impose import tariffs on polished diamonds originating from the United States. The decision, hailed as a strategic and balanced one, comes amidst a broader framework of EU countermeasures in response to tariffs introduced by the U.S. during the Trump administration.
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), which represents the interests of the Belgian diamond industry, has applauded the EU’s stance. Karen Rentmeesters, CEO of AWDC, emphasized the importance of this decision, highlighting the potential economic fallout had tariffs been implemented.

“We are extremely pleased and grateful that our efforts over the past weeks have led to the European Council’s decision not to impose tariffs on US diamonds,” said Karen Rentmeesters. Rentmeesters expressed appreciation for the coordinated support from the Flemish and Belgian governments, as well as the EU, in safeguarding the industry’s interests.“This decision demonstrates that the Flemish and Belgian governments, as well as the EU, recognise and actively support both the strategic importance of the diamond sector in Belgium and the principle of free trade in diamonds.”
The United States remains a crucial trading partner for Belgium, accounting for nearly $3.9 billion in polished diamond trade annually — approximately 16% of the country’s total diamond trade. Antwerp, as the epicenter of Belgium’s diamond industry, relies heavily on the fluid movement of diamonds across borders, particularly with the U.S.
Rentmeesters noted that the diamond trade often involves multiple transatlantic shipments, especially for processes like grading and certification performed at U.S.-based labs. Tariffs could have resulted in double taxation — once upon entering the U.S., and again on re-entry into the EU — severely affecting profitability and logistics.
The AWDC also questioned the effectiveness of reciprocal tariffs as a political or economic tool, arguing that such measures would have little to no tangible impact on the U.S., while severely disrupting Belgium’s diamond sector.
Another complexity lies in the origin-based nature of import tariffs in the diamond industry. Since most polished diamonds are not cut in the U.S., any tariffs targeting “US diamonds” would only affect a small fraction of the trade. Nevertheless, enforcement would necessitate rigorous documentation and inspections, resulting in increased administrative burdens and shipment delays.
She concluded with optimism, calling for continued dialogue and negotiated resolutions to broader trade disputes, while encouraging the EU to maintain its measured and trade-friendly policies moving forward.
DiamondBuzz
De Beers Group Sets Out Portfolio and Organisational Actions to Support Long-Term Value Creation
Company outlines strategic cost optimisation, portfolio streamlining and operational changes to strengthen resilience while positioning for long-term growth in the natural diamond industry.
De Beers Group is advancing delivery of its business streamlining by setting out a number of planned portfolio and organisational changes to ensure an efficient cost base that strengthens resilience in the near-term while enhancing future competitiveness and retaining optionality as industry conditions improve.
Since 2024, De Beers has been streamlining its business in line with its Origins strategy to reduce costs, divest non-core assets and prioritise investment in activities that create the most value. Significant progress has been made, with more than $100 million of annual overhead costs removed from the business, the sale or closure of a number of non-core assets and significant capital and cost reconfigurations to asset expansion projects.
Simultaneously, De Beers has reinvested in natural diamond category marketing to support the industry’s efforts to grow natural diamond demand, launching new large-scale campaigns and collaborating with key stakeholders across the value chain to foster industry-wide investment. Global consumer demand for natural diamond jewellery returned to growth in 2025, while natural diamond sales increased across US independent jewellers in 2025 and into Q1 2026, led by higher value diamonds and those promoted by De Beers’ Desert Diamonds marketing campaign.
On the supply side, global rough diamond production is now decreasing, with several producers closing mines during 2026. Whilst the increasing rarity of diamonds and the emerging signs of improvement in consumer demand are likely to support longer-term value creation, rough diamond trading conditions are expected to remain challenging in the near-term due to cyclical and industry-specific factors.
Consistent with recent actions to improve business resilience, De Beers intends to pause production at the Venetia mine in South Africa for two years to reduce costs while also rephasing capital expenditure on its underground project. This will involve critical infrastructure investment to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the mine, with the intention to support future production growth as business and industry conditions improve.
De Beers is engaging with stakeholders in accordance with relevant requirements and the company’s values as it moves through this process, and will both support impacted employees and continue to invest in its community and Social and Labour Plan commitments.
This proposed action at Venetia Mine follows the decision earlier this year to pause the Tuzo Phase 3 expansion project at the Gahcho Kué Mine in Canada.
In parallel, De Beers plans to reconfigure its global operating model to refocus and prioritise resources on the core operational businesses and reduce its central corporate cost base.
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said:

“In line with our commitment to focus and streamline our business, we are making a number of changes to De Beers to ensure greater business resilience in the near-term, while supporting long-term value creation. We recognise the protracted challenging conditions as the diamond industry evolves, though we are encouraged by signs of consumer demand growth in the US and beyond, particularly in higher quality diamonds.
Global rough diamond supply is falling, bringing more support to the market. The changes we are making to our business are focused on underpinning our efficiency now and into the future, favourably positioning De Beers in its leadership role.”
De Beers Group will maintain current production levels through its other operations, and previous production guidance remains unchanged.
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