I think we could see movement earlier than that. The response...

I think we could see movement earlier than that. The response from the big players is telling.

Preliminary CVD tariffs (announced last week) are currently being imposed. This includes 712% on Huzhou Kaijin, 721% on Shanghai Shaosheng Knitted Sweat and 6% on all others. (Link)

Huzhou Kaijin (fifth-largest anode material company) supplies anodes to the Tesla supply chain. Two days ago, Tesla extended the deadline to February for SYR to meet final qualification for its Vidalia facility.

There has been some confusion on the inclusion of clothing company Shanghai Shaosheng. Korea reported that they believe this company is "a bypass exporter of 'Shanshan', the world's second-largest [anode] material company." (Link)

Korea is watching this situation closely:
"It is also unusual for the U.S. government to push ahead with a preliminary decision this time, even though battery companies such as Tesla and Panasonic expressed opposition to imposing tariffs on Chinese [anode] materials in a preliminary hearing in January.

'This preliminary decision is only the beginning of checking low-cost Chinese batteries,' a battery industry official said. 'In fact, it has sent a warning message to the entire Chinese [anode] material industry.'

A POSCO Future M official said. 'If the [anode] material market price is confirmed due to public tariffs, there will be more opportunities for supply in the US-oriented battery business." (Link)

And the big one is still to come in July when Commerce is expected to release their preliminary AD rates. Preliminary AD tariffs will be imposed immediately after any affirmative decision.

"The petitioners did not request specific CVD rates, but did call for antidumping margins of over 900%. The industry expects the preliminary AD rates to be more significant than [the CVD rates]." (Link)

Time's nearly up for Chinese graphite.