As Americans Continue to Face Higher Prices from Trump’s Tariff Obsession, Wyden Asks USTR to Explain a Troubling Pattern of Personal Gift-giving and Arbitrary Tariff Exemptions for the Belgian Diamond Industry
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., demanded answers from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) about the appearance of a corrupt pattern of bribes-for-tariff-exemptions, following Trump’s decision to exempt the Belgian diamond industry from his latest wave of tariffs after the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) presented him with a diamond-encrusted gold ring.
After the Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump’s “emergency” global tariffs were illegal, his administration immediately instituted a temporary 10% global blanket tariff under a different law, Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Though the Belgian diamond industry was spared under the earlier tariffs, the new levy applied to their diamond exports. In July, industry leaders presented the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium with a $35,000, 18-karat gold ring intended for Trump, complete with almost 400 gemstones and a personal engraving to Trump. Weeks ago, when the Section 122 tariffs expired and were replaced with new tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, natural diamonds were once again exempted.
“This sequence of events creates the perception that foreign industries believe they can buy tariff relief through the presentation of ostentatious gifts intended for the President,” Wyden wrote in his letter to Ambassador Jamieson Greer. “American businesses and workers rely on the administration to negotiate and set policy based on the economic interests of the United States, not the personal enrichment of the President.”
Wyden requested that Ambassador Greer provide answers to the following questions no later than September 1, 2026:
- Did USTR, or any official within the administration, engage in discussions with Belgian representatives or the AWDC regarding a potential exemption, reduction, or cap on the 10% tariff imposed under Section 122 or tariffs imposed under Section 301?
- Did USTR prepare any policy briefs or recommendations regarding the proposed increase of Section 122 tariffs to 15% specifically concerning polished diamonds?
- Did the President or any White House advisor provide directives on this matter following the June 2026 event in Brussels?
- Did USTR or any administration official have any communication with the AWDC or its affiliates regarding the commissioning, design, or planned presentation of the “Freedom 250” ring?
- Was USTR consulted on whether the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium should accept a gift of this value from a foreign commercial entity actively impacted by U.S. trade policy?
Wyden has tirelessly rallied against Trump’s reckless and self-enriching tariff scheme. In January 2026, Wyden wrote to Ambassador Greer after Trump publicly admitted to arbitrarily imposing tariffs on Swiss goods and reducing them following receipt of personal gifts from Swiss companies. In October 2025, the Senate passed Wyden’s bipartisan resolution to repeal all of Trump’s harmful global tariffs that he illegally imposed under emergency powers. Wyden has also fought to alleviate the economic burden these tariffs placed on consumers and small businesses. In February 2026, Wyden and 25 Senate Democrats introduced legislation requiring the Trump administration to pay automatic refunds of illegal tariffs and to prioritize small businesses. In April 2026, Wyden called for the passage of the Speedy Tariff Refunds Act as Trump continued to delay refunds.
The text of the letter is here.
A web version of this release is here.