Commerce Releases Final AD/CVD Amounts in Battery Anode Case
•February 12, 2026
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Why It Matters
The duties aim to level the playing field for nascent U.S. AAM producers, potentially reshaping supply chains in the fast‑growing EV and energy‑storage markets.
Key Takeaways
- •AD rates fixed at 93.5% for major exporters
- •CVD rates set around 66.86% for most exporters
- •Tariffs target raw anode material, not finished EV batteries
- •Domestic startups may face higher input costs despite exemptions
Pulse Analysis
The battery supply chain has become a focal point of U.S.-China trade tensions, with active anode material emerging as a critical bottleneck. While cathode chemistries like LFP and NMC dominate headlines, the graphite‑based anodes underpin cell performance and cost. By imposing AD and CVD duties on Chinese AAM, the Commerce Department signals a strategic push to cultivate a domestic source, reducing reliance on China’s oversupplied market and addressing concerns raised by the American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP).
The final duty rates—93.5% AD for Tesla, Panasonic and other major exporters and a uniform 66.86% CVD for most producers—translate into substantial cost increases for raw anode powders, cells and modules entering the United States. Notably, the tariffs exempt finished electric vehicles and utility‑scale battery containers, shielding end‑users from direct price shocks. However, battery pack assemblers that source raw AAM will see higher input costs, which could compress margins for U.S. manufacturers unless they secure domestic supply or pass costs to customers.
In the broader market, these measures could accelerate investment in U.S. anode facilities, fostering a nascent industry led by startups such as Anovion and NOVONIX. If the International Trade Commission affirms its preliminary finding, the duties will become enforceable, prompting importers to reassess sourcing strategies. The resulting shift may spur innovation in alternative anode chemistries, like silicon‑based composites, while also influencing global pricing dynamics as Chinese exporters adjust to reduced U.S. market access.
Commerce releases final AD/CVD amounts in battery anode case
The Dept. of Commerce has revealed its final determinations in its antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of active anode material (AAM) from China. Final AD rates stayed the same as the preliminary decision, while general CVD rates increased.
Final dumping margins
| Exporter | AD rate |
|---|---|
| Tesla, Panasonic, Hunan Zhongke Shinzoom, Jiangxi Zichen Technology, Resonac, Shanghai Shanshan New Material | 93.5% |
| All others / China‑wide entity | 102.72% |
Final subsidy rates
| Exporter / Producer | CVD rate |
|---|---|
| Huzhou Kaijin New Energy Technology, Shanghai Shaosheng Knitted Sweat, BTR New Material | 66.82% |
| Panasonic | 66.86% |
| All others | 66.86% |
The AD/CVD investigation was requested in December 2024 by American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP), a group of startup companies seeking to initiate domestic production of active anode materials—a necessary component in lithium batteries used in the energy‑storage and EV markets. AAAMP claims that China’s dominance in AAM production has prevented the domestic market from establishing competitive operations.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) made a preliminary affirmative determination in January 2025 that imported active anode material from China was harming the U.S. industry, and the Dept. of Commerce began calculating potential tariff amounts. The ITC is today hosting a hearing on this case. If it releases an affirmative final decision, the final AD/CVD rates will officially go into effect and Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting the duties.
What are battery active anode materials?
A battery needs both a cathode and an anode to facilitate the flow of electric charge. During charging, electrons move from the positive cathode to the negative anode, and that electrical difference is what translates to stored energy. The stated “chemistry” of a battery is its active cathode material—lithium iron phosphate (LFP) or lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), for example. Active anode materials are typically carbon‑based—like graphite powder or silicon oxide. The materials are mined, ground to a fine powder and then coated on the anode (usually copper foil).
AAAMP claims that it represents the only domestic manufacturers of active anode materials. Membership consists of:
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Anovion Technologies (Georgia)
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Syrah Technologies (Louisiana)
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NOVONIX Anode Materials (Tennessee)
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Epsilon Advanced Materials 5060 (North Carolina)
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SKI US (Georgia)
Most of these companies are still considered to be in the startup stage. AAAMP argued in its petition that the domestic AAM industry is struggling to get off the ground because of China’s oversupply.
Commerce clarified that EVs and completed battery energy‑storage system containers for both utility‑scale and residential applications are excluded from these tariffs. However, raw AAM, battery cells and battery modules are within the scope and subject to tariffs. Domestic battery manufacturers will feel the tariff burden while BESS importers will not.
Kelly Pickerel
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World.
Email: [email protected]
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