# Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order
**AGENCY:**
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
**SUMMARY:**
As a result of the determinations by the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) order on small diameter graphite electrodes from the People's Republic of China would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of this AD order.
**DATES:**
Applicable August 29, 2025.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Elizabeth Whiteman, Trade Agreements Policy and Negotiations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0473.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Background**
On February 26, 2009, Commerce published in the *Federal Register* the AD order on small diameter graphite electrodes from the People's Republic of China. [^1] On March 3, 2025, the ITC instituted, [^2] and Commerce initiated, [^3] the third sunset review of the *Order,* pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). As a result of its review, Commerce determined that revocation of the *Order* would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, and therefore, notified the ITC of the magnitude of the margins of dumping likely to prevail should the *Order* be revoked. [^4]
[^1]*See Antidumping Duty Order: Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from the People's Republic of China,* 74 FR 8775 (February 26, 2009) ( *Order* ).
[^2]*See Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes From China; Institution of a Five-Year Review,* 90 FR 11056 (March 3, 2025).
[^3]*See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews,* 90 FR 11039 (March 3, 2025).
[^4]*See Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited Third Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order,* 90 FR 28996 (July 2, 2025), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (IDM).
On August 29, 2025, the ITC published its determination, pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752(a) of the Act, that revocation of the *Order* would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time. [^5]
[^5]*See Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from China; Determination,* 90 FR 42265 (August 29, 2025) ( *ITC Final Determination* ).
**Scope of the Order**
The merchandise covered by the *Order* includes all small diameter graphite electrodes of any length, whether or not finished, of a kind used in furnaces, with a nominal or actual diameter of 400 millimeters (16 inches) or less, and whether or not attached to a graphite pin joining system or any other type of joining system or hardware. The merchandise covered by the *Order* also includes graphite pin joining systems for small diameter graphite electrodes, of any length, whether or not finished, of a kind used in furnaces, and whether or not the graphite pin joining system is attached to, sold with, or sold separately from, the small diameter graphite electrode. Small diameter graphite electrodes and graphite pin joining systems for small diameter graphite electrodes are most commonly used in primary melting, ladle metallurgy, and specialty furnace applications in industries including foundries, smelters, and steel refining operations. Small diameter graphite electrodes and graphite pin joining systems for small diameter graphite electrodes that are subject to the *Order* are currently classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 8545.11.0010, [^6] 3801.10, [^7] and 8545.11.0020. [^8] The HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, but the written description of the scope is dispositive.
[^6] The scope described in the order refers to the HTSUS subheading 8545.11.0000. We note that, starting in 2010, imports of small diameter graphite electrodes are classified in the HTSUS under subheading 8545.11.0010 and imports of large diameter graphite electrodes are classified under subheading 8545.11.0020.
[^7] HTSUS subheading 3801.10 was added to the scope of the graphite electrodes order based on a determination in *Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from the People's Republic of China: Affirmative Final Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order,* 77 FR 47596 (August 9, 2012) (first circumvention determination). The products covered by the first circumvention determination are graphite electrodes (or graphite pin joining systems) that were (1) produced by UK Carbon and Graphite Co., Ltd. (UKCG) from China-manufactured artificial/synthetic graphite forms, of a size and shape ( *e.g.,* blanks, rods, cylinders, billets, blocks, etc.), (2) which required additional machining processes ( *i.e.,* tooling and shaping) that UKCG performed in the United Kingdom (UK), and (3) were re-exported to the United States as UK-origin merchandise.
[^8] HTSUS subheading 8545.11.0020 was added to the scope of the graphite electrodes order based on a determination in *Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from the People's Republic of China: Affirmative Final Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order and Rescission of Later-Developed Merchandise Anticircumvention Inquiry,* 78 FR 56864 (September 16, 2013) (second circumvention determination). The products covered by the second circumvention determination are graphite electrodes produced and/or exported by Jilin Carbon Import and Export Company with an actual or nominal diameter of 17 inches.
**Continuation of the Order**
As a result of the determinations by Commerce and the ITC that revocation of the *Order* would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to section 751(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce hereby orders the continuation of the *Order.* U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to collect AD cash deposits at the rates in effect at the time of entry for all imports of subject merchandise.
The effective date of the continuation of the *Order* will be August 29, 2025. [^9] Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(c)(2), Commerce intends to initiate the next five-year reviews of the *Order* not later than 30 days prior to fifth anniversary of the date of the last determination by the ITC.
[^9]*See ITC Final Determination.*
**Administrative Protective Order (APO)**
This notice also serves as a final reminder to parties subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), which continues to govern business proprietary information in this segment of the proceeding. Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials, or conversion to judicial protective order, is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction.
**Notification to Interested Parties**
This five-year (sunset) review and this notice are in accordance with sections 751(c) and 751(d)(2) of the Act and published in accordance with section 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4).
Dated: August 29, 2025.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.