Antwerp diamond industry denies gifted ring influenced Trump tariff exemption

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), which represents Belgium's diamond sector, issued a statement on Wednesday denying any connection between an 18-carat gold ring set with 321 diamonds — presented to U.S. President Donald Trump on June 28 — and a July 24 Trump administration decision to exempt European natural diamonds from new Section 301 tariffs, restoring the industry's prior 0% tariff rate.

The ring was handed to the U.S. ambassador in Belgium by the AWDC president and David Gotlib of David Gotlib Luxury Cufflinks, as a gift for Trump to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The AWDC stated: 'The ring was designed and gifted on the occasion of the official celebration of 250 years of American independence, organized by the U.S. Embassy in Belgium. Without that celebration, there would have been no ring.'

Two Democratic senators sent a letter to the AWDC and David Gotlib Luxury Cufflinks demanding answers about the gift, warning that it raised legal questions under U.S. federal bribery law and could expose the companies to criminal penalties.

The AWDC acknowledged that the diamond sector had previously secured a 0% tariff rate in September 2025, but said that when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump's tariff law, the administration moved to a 10% global tariff for 150 days, which also affected the diamond sector. The AWDC said it subsequently pushed for reinstatement of the 0% rate, but maintained those advocacy efforts were 'entirely separate' from the gift.

The White House denied granting any favours to special interests, with a spokesman stating that the tariff exemption simply upheld a prior U.S.-European Union trade agreement signed in Scotland in July of the previous year, under which preferential treatment for diamonds had already been committed to.

An administration official noted that the ring is considered federal property, meaning the president would be required to pay the government its market price if he wished to keep it.

David Gotlib Luxury Cufflinks did not immediately respond to requests for comment. According to The Straits Times, the company was not immediately reachable by Reuters, and there was no response via a PR representative or LinkedIn.

• The market value of the ring has not been established by either source.
• The full contents of the Democratic senators' letter are not reproduced; only a summary of its demands and warnings is provided.
• Neither source identifies the two Democratic senators by name.
• It is not established whether the Trump administration received or reviewed the senators' letter, or whether any formal investigation has been opened.
• The specific terms of the U.S.-EU trade deal signed in Scotland — including which provisions cover diamond tariffs — are not detailed.
• Whether the president has taken any steps to pay for or return the ring is not addressed.
• No independent legal analysis of whether the gift constitutes a violation of U.S. federal bribery law is provided.

1. The Independent — original — by Charlotte Van Campenhout
2. The Straits Times — by The Straits Times

Read the original at The Independent

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