The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a preliminary ruling supporting American graphite producers in their case against China, stating that artificially low-priced Chinese graphite exports have suppressed the growth of the domestic industry. NOVONIX Limited, a leading battery materials and technology company, welcomed the decision, emphasizing its importance in ensuring fair competition for U.S. producers of battery-grade graphite.

On December 19, 2024, the American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP), including NOVONIX, filed a petition with the ITC and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The case seeks to determine whether China has been exporting natural and synthetic graphite to the United States at unfairly low prices, undercutting domestic producers. If the investigation confirms these claims, the U.S. government may impose import tariffs to counteract the unfair pricing.

Robert Long, Interim CEO of NOVONIX, expressed concern over China’s dominance in the global critical minerals supply chain, attributing it to extensive government subsidies designed to eliminate competition. “China’s strategic efforts to control the global critical minerals supply chain, fueled by massive government subsidies with the clear intent of suppressing fair competition, are a threat to U.S. energy and national security,” Long stated. “The ITC’s ruling represents an important step toward leveling the playing field for U.S. critical minerals producers and bringing transparency to the global marketplace. This will protect companies like NOVONIX from unfair predatory pricing practices by Chinese producers.”

With this initial ruling in place, the case now moves forward under U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) statutes. The Department of Commerce will further evaluate China’s pricing strategies, determining whether additional tariffs should be imposed to counteract any unfair advantages. Currently, China holds over 95% of the global market share for battery-grade graphite, making this case a critical development in efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains for electric vehicle and energy storage industries.

As the United States seeks to expand its domestic graphite production capacity, NOVONIX’s Riverside facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is positioned to play a key role. This site will be the first large-scale production facility in North America dedicated to high-performance synthetic graphite for the battery industry. Commercial production is set to begin in early 2026, with an initial target of 20,000 tonnes per year to fulfill existing commitments with Panasonic, Stellantis, and PowerCo.

The case was filed by AAAMP, which includes four members of the North American Graphite Alliance (NAGA) as well as two other U.S.-based graphite anode material producers. NAGA represents both American and Canadian producers of battery-grade natural and synthetic graphite, which are essential for lithium-ion battery anode production. If the case leads to protective tariffs, it could help domestic companies scale up operations and compete more effectively in the global graphite market.