U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Final Determination in Chinese Graphite Anti-Dumping Investigation
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anti-dumpingregulatory
A trade policy tool used by a government to stop foreign producers from selling goods in its market at unfairly low prices, often below production cost or normal value, by imposing duties or restrictions. It matters to investors because anti-dumping measures can raise costs for importers, protect sales and margins for domestic producers, change supply chains, and quickly alter the competitive landscape and stock valuations of companies on both sides of the border—like a referee restoring a level playing field.
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A countervailing duty is a tariff a government places on imported goods to neutralize the effect of foreign government subsidies that make those goods artificially cheap. It matters to investors because it can raise costs for importers or shield domestic producers, affecting profit margins, sales volumes and supply chains—much like a referee adding weight to balance a tipped scale, which can shift competitive advantage and stock prices.
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Section 301 tariffs are extra import duties a government can impose on goods from another country after it finds unfair trade practices, like forced technology transfer or discriminatory rules. Think of them as a penalty fee added to certain foreign products; they matter to investors because they can raise costs, disrupt supply chains, change competitive positions, and affect corporate profits, pricing and market access across affected industries.
section 232 tariffsregulatory
A U.S. law authority that lets the government impose import duties if certain goods are judged to threaten national security, commonly used for metals like steel or aluminum. For investors, these tariffs act like a sudden price hike or import tax on a company's raw materials or foreign competitors, which can raise costs, change profit margins, shift supply chains, and alter competitive advantage across affected industries.
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A government body that acts like a referee for cross-border commerce, reviewing complaints about unfair practices, banned imports, tariffs or patent violations and issuing rulings or penalties. Its decisions can quickly change which foreign products can be sold, add costs through duties or block imports entirely, so investors watch rulings for sudden impacts on a company’s sales, supply chains, profit margins and competitive position.
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A lithium-ion battery is a rechargeable energy cell that stores and releases power by moving lithium ions between two electrodes, like a pump moving water back and forth to hold and deliver energy. Investors care because these batteries power electric vehicles, portable electronics and grid storage, so factors such as cost, energy density, lifespan, and raw-material supply directly affect manufacturing costs, product competitiveness and long-term company profits.
Ruling Confirms Unfair Trade Practices and Finds Chinese Producers are Violating Anti-Dumping Rules
U.S.-Imposed Tariffs on Chinese Natural Graphite Anode Material Increased to Approximately 220%
CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSE American: WWR), an energy technology and battery-grade natural graphite company (“Westwater” or the “Company”), announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) issued its final determination in the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations of graphite-based anode materials imported from the People’s Republic of China.
The DOC’s preliminary determinations in 2025 imposed countervailing and anti-dumping duties of 11.58% and 93.5%, respectively. In its final determination released on February 11, 2026, the DOC increased the countervailing duty rate to 66.68% and maintained the anti-dumping duty rate at 93.5%.
The Company estimates total penalties on Chinese natural graphite anode material U.S. imports now total approximately 220%:
DOC anti-dumping duties: 93.5% TOTAL tariffs/duties: ~220.18%
The DOC’s final determination follows a year-long investigation into alleged subsidization of Chinese anode material producers and pricing practices affecting the U.S. market. It remains subject to a final affirmative injury determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”), which is expected in March 2026. If the ITC issues a final affirmative decision, then the DOC duties will remain in effect for a minimum of five years in accordance with applicable U.S. trade law.
The Company believes the combined effect of these trade measures could further increase demand for U.S.-produced natural graphite anode material from buyers within a variety of lithium-ion battery markets including electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems, defense and others.
About Westwater Resources, Inc.
Westwater Resources is an energy technology company that is focused on developing battery-grade natural graphite. Westwater Resources’ primary project is the Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant that is under construction in east-central Alabama. In addition, Westwater Resources’ Coosa Graphite Deposit is the largest and most advanced natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States — and is located across 41,965 acres (~17,000 hectares) in Coosa County, Alabama. For more information, visit westwaterresources.net.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words and phrases such as “increased,” “approximately,” “final,” “preliminary,” “estimates,” “subject to,” “expected,” “believes,” “could further increase,” and other similar words or phrases. Forward looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning: the importance of critical minerals including battery-grade graphite; establishing a graphite industry in the U.S.; tariffs associated with the importation of natural graphite into the U.S. including the percentage of those tariffs and the countries for which tariffs will apply; and the Company’s business plans for its Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant including the sale of the products from that Plant to buyers in lithium-ion battery markets. The Company cautions that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. Those uncertainties and other factors are discussed in Westwater’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent securities filings, and they could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations.
