[SMM Analysis] Reversal! The Final AD/CVD Duty Rate Imposed by the US on China’s Graphite Anode Came Close to 170%, but Ultimately Was Not Implemented

On March 12, 2026, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled against imposing tariffs on graphite imports from China.

Below is the complete timeline, tariff rates at each stage, and the latest outcome as of March 12, 2026, for the US anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into China’s active anode materials (graphite anode).

Dec 2024: The American Active Anode Material Producers Association (AAAMP)filed a petition, alleging that Chinese graphite anode products were being dumped and subsidized, thereby hindering the establishment of domestic US industry.

Jan 7, 2025:The US Department of Commerce formally initiated a case and launchedanti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations into China’s active anode materials.

Preliminary Determination Stage (May-July 2025)

1 Countervailing Duty Preliminary Determination (2025.5.2)

The US Department of Commerce determined that subsidies existed and imposed provisional countervailing duties:

Individually rated enterprises: 712.03%-721.03%

Uniform rate for other Chinese exporters: 6.55%

2 Anti-Dumping Preliminary Determination (2025.7.17)

The US Department of Commerce determined that dumping existed and imposed provisional anti-dumping duties:

Individually rated enterprises: 93.50%.

Uniform rate for other Chinese exporters: 102.72%.

Final Determination Stage (2026.2)

February 11, 2026: The US Department of Commerce issued its final determinations in the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations, confirming the existence of dumping and subsidies:

1 Anti-Dumping Duty (AD):

Individually rated enterprises: 93.50% (unchanged from the preliminary determination).

Uniform rate for other Chinese exporters: 102.72% (unchanged from the preliminary determination).

2 Countervailing Duty (CVD):

Nationwide uniform rate: 66.82%-66.86%.

Combined Rate (AD+CVD):

Individually rated enterprises: 93.50%+66.82%/66.86%≈160.32%-160.36%.

Uniform rate for other Chinese exporters: 102.72%+66.82%/66.86%≈169.54%-169.58%.

Final Outcome (2026.3.12)

March 12, 2026: The US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted in the negative in its final decision, finding that imports from China did not materially injure the establishment of domestic US industry; therefore, neither the anti-dumping duty (AD) nor the countervailing duty (CVD) took effect.

SMM New Energy Industry Research Department

Wang Cong 021-51,666,838

Ma Rui 021-51,595,780

Feng Disheng 021-51,666,714

Lv Yanlin 021-20,707,875

Zhou Zhicheng 021-51,666,711

Zhang Haohan 021-51,666,752

Wang Zihan 021-51,666,914

Wang Jie 021-51,595,902

Xu Yang 021-51,666,760

Chen Bolin 021-51,666,836

Xu Mengqi 021-20,707,868