On February 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued its final determinations of (1) duty rates and (2) duty coverage in the ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into active anode material (battery-grade graphite) from China.
The investigations were initiated in late 2024 based on petitions that sought duties not just on Chinese graphite imported on its own, but on the value of Chinese graphite incorporated into downstream products such as anode slurries, electrodes, battery cells, and batteries – even where those downstream goods were made outside of China. In the preliminary investigation results that the Commerce Department issued last year, it adopted this approach over the objections of certain large battery companies and purchasers. In the results, the Commerce Department has amended the scope of the investigations and duties to state that they “do not include active anode material incorporated into imports of lithium-ion battery products (such as cells, modules, and packs).” Likewise, active anode material incorporated into battery-containing product, like cell phones or electric vehicles, is not covered by the investigations or duties.
As for the duties themselves, the preliminary antidumping duty margins of 93.50% – 102.50% have been continued into the final results. The countervailing duty margins, however, have changed considerably. Originally, these ranged from 11.58% – 721.03% depending on the Chinese producer/exporter of the goods. The final countervailing duty margins are 66.82% – 66.86%.
Now that the Commerce Department has calculated final duties and product coverage, the investigations will be taken over by the U.S. International Trade Commission. That agency is tasked with determining whether a U.S. industry has been materially injured by imports of Chinese battery-grade graphite. The Commission’s determination is expected in March 2026. If it finds that a U.S. industry has been injured, final antidumping and countervailing duties will go into place. If it finds no injury, the investigations will be terminated and any duties collected thus far will be returned.
For more information, contact Maureen Thorson at 202.719.7272 or [email protected].