Washington [US], July 18: The US Department of Commerce announced on July 17 that it plans to impose a preliminary anti-dumping tax of 93.5% on graphite imported from China, after reviewing a petition on the issue, according to AFP.
A final decision on tariffs on graphite , a key component in batteries, is expected to be made in early December, AFP reported, citing an announcement from the US Department of Commerce
The Commerce Department's investigation followed a petition filed late last year by the Active Anode Materials Manufacturers Association, a coalition of U.S. graphite manufacturers.
Graphite is a key raw material used to produce battery anodes, and China is a dominant country in graphite processing capacity, according to AFP.
The 93.5% anti-dumping duty could heat up the global electric vehicle supply chain, potentially raising costs for automakers that rely on the material for production.
The products under investigation include active anode materials, regardless of whether they are used in finished batteries, according to AFP.
There is currently no information about China's reaction to the US Department of Commerce's announcement of the above tax rate.
The US Commerce Department's announcement comes after Washington also targeted solar-related imports from Southeast Asia earlier this year.
Since returning to the White House in January, US President Donald Trump has also targeted sector-specific imports with tariffs, including a 50% levy on imported steel and aluminum, along with other duties on cars, according to AFP.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper