US-China trade: Chinese graphite imports under fire; 93.5% anti dumping duty imposed

The US commerce department on Thursday announced that it will be imposing a 93.5% anti dumping duty on anode-grade graphite imported from China. The move comes after revelations that the material, which is a major component used in manufacuring electric vehicle batteries, is sold in the US at prices less than fair market value. According to a commerce department fact sheet cited by Reuters, the decision applies a single anti-dumping margin and cash deposit rate of 93.5% to all Chinese producers. The measure targets imports worth $347.1 million in 2023. The duties affect anode-grade graphite with a minimum graphite purity of 90% carbon by weight. This includes synthetic graphite, natural graphite, and combination of both. The announcement follows a separate but related investigation by the commerce department into subsidies for Chinese anode-grade graphite, which on 20 May led to preliminary countervailing duties. Most Chinese producers were hit with a rate of 6.55%, while Huzhou Kaijin New Energy Technology Corp faced a staggering 712.03%, and Shanghai Shaosheng Knitted Sweat (sic) was assigned an even higher rate of 721.03%. Final decision on both the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures are expected by 5 December 2025, as per Reuters. The cases were brought forward by the American Active Anode Material Producers, an ad hoc coalition of U.S. manufacturers. Members of the group include Anovion Technologies (Sanborn, New York), Syrah Technologies LLC (Vidalia, Louisiana), Novonix Anode Materials (Chattanooga, Tennessee), Epsilon Advanced Materials (Leland, North Carolina), and SKI US Inc (Marietta, Georgia).