International News
US jewellery, watches sales up by 4.4 per cent year-on-year
Sales of watches and jewelry in the US showed further signs of growth in December 2024, up 4.4 per cent year-on-year, according the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce. But there’s been a marked slowdown since the 10 per cent increases of last September and October.
November saw sales up by just 3.0 per cent, revised down from 5.8 per cent based on actual through-the-till transactions rather than estimates. October has been revised up from 9.7 per cent to 10.0 per cent.
The average monthly year-on-year growth for the full year is 5.4 per cent, so December was little below par. Having said that, it was the 15th consecutive month of growth after a long period (the end of 2022 and much of 2023) of falling sales.
International News
JA Lobbies For Exemptions As US Threatens 100% Tariffs
To Shield The Supply Chain, JA Is Petitioning Washington To Place Diamonds, Gemstones, and Pearls On The U.S. Annex II List, Which Designates Products Eligible For Duty-Free Entry Into The United States.
– Jewelers of America (JA) has intensified its lobbying efforts in Washington to secure sweeping tariff exemptions for diamonds, gemstones, and pearls, as new legislation opens the door to potential 100% duties on imports from major trade partners including India.
The industry group sent a delegation of executives and members to Capitol Hill on Sept. 15 for its annual “Fly-In” event, pressing lawmakers to safeguard the trade from broad trade penalties aimed at supporters of Russia’s energy sector.
The delegation, led by JA President and Chief Executive David J. Bonaparte, met with key lawmakers, including Senators Dick Durbin and Susan Collins and Representatives Jim Jordan and Dave Joyce.
The increased lobbying push coincided with Congress weighing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Passed by the House of Representatives on Sept. 16 and signed into law by President Donald Trump on Sept. 18, the legislation grants executive authority to levy tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, as well as top facilitators of sanctions evasion.
India, a primary global hub for diamond cutting and polishing, is among the top buyers of Russian crude and faces potential exposure under the law’s discretionary tariff authority.
To shield the supply chain, JA is petitioning Washington to place diamonds, gemstones, and pearls on the U.S. Annex II list, which designates products eligible for duty-free entry into the United States.
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