Large Diameter Graphite Electrodes From China and India; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-787-788 and 731-TA-1775-1776 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 to determine whether an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports of large diameter graphite electrodes from China and India, provided for in subheadings 8545.11.00, 3801.10.50, and 3801.90.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce ("Commerce") to be subsidized and sold at less-than-fair-value.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67328-67330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21754]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-787-788 and 731-TA-1775-1776 (Final)]


Large Diameter Graphite Electrodes From China and India; 
Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping 
Duty Investigations

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

[[Page 67329]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the 
final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 
701-TA-787-788 and 731-TA-1775-1776 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act 
of 1930 to determine whether an industry in the United States is 
materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the 
establishment of an industry in the United States is materially 
retarded, by reason of imports of large diameter graphite electrodes 
from China and India, provided for in subheadings 8545.11.00, 
3801.10.50, and 3801.90.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States, preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce 
(``Commerce'') to be subsidized and sold at less-than-fair-value.

DATES: September 30, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Camille Bryan ((202) 205-2811), Office 
of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need 
special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact 
the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
internet server (<a href="https://www.usitc.gov">https://www.usitc.gov</a>). The public record for these 
investigations may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) at <a href="https://edis.usitc.gov">https://edis.usitc.gov</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Scope.--For purposes of these investigations, Commerce has defined 
the subject merchandise as all large diameter graphite electrodes of 
any length, whether or not finished, of a kind used in furnaces, with a 
nominal or actual diameter exceeding 425 millimeters (16.7 inches), 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 
investigation also includes graphite pin joining systems (commonly 
referred to as pins or nipples) for large diameter graphite electrodes, 
of any length, and with a minimum diameter of 228.6 mm (9 inches) at 
its widest transverse cross-section, 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 large diameter 
graphite electrode. Unfinished large diameter graphite electrodes are 
graphitized electrodes that have not undergone final machining. For 
purposes of the investigation, the country of origin is determined by 
the country of graphitization.
    Excluded from the scope of the investigation are large diameter 
graphite electrodes that are subject to the existing antidumping duty 
order on Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from the People's Republic 
of China. See Antidumping Duty Order: Small Diameter Graphite 
Electrodes from the People's Republic of China,74 FR 8775 (February 26, 
2009) (SDGE China AD Order) due to an affirmative determination of 
circumvention that imports of graphite electrodes from the People's 
Republic of China, produced and/or exported by Sinosteel Jilin Carbon 
Co., Ltd. and Jilin Carbon Import & Export Company (collectively, Jilin 
Carbon), with an actual or nominal diameter of 17 inches and otherwise 
meeting the description of the scope of the SDGE China AD Order 
constitute merchandise subject to the SDGE China AD Order. See 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). In the case 
of graphite electrodes entering the United States determined to be 
subject to the SDGE China AD Order, such order controls. In the case of 
graphite electrodes entering the United States meeting the scope 
definition of the investigation and not covered by the scope of the 
SDGE China AD Order, the scope of the investigation controls.
    Excluded from the scope of the investigation are certain thermal 
energy storage (TES) graphite blocks. The excluded TES graphite blocks 
are machine-milled, non-cylindrical graphite blocks, which have: a 
coefficient of thermal expansion of 1.5 [micro]m/(m[middot]K) or 
greater, and an apparent (also known as bulk) density below 1.74 g/cm3, 
and which have an actual length of between 228.6 mm (9.0 inches) and 
3010 mm (118.5 inches), an actual width between 228.6 mm (9.0 inches) 
and 560 mm (22.0 inches), an actual height between 228.6 mm (9.0 
inches) and 560 mm (22.0 inches), and which have been machined to 
include two or more holes of at least 150 mm (5.9 inches) in depth and 
at least 35 mm (1.4 inches) in diameter.
    The two or more 150 mm deep holes must be located: (i) along the 
longest centerline of the longest side of the block, each located on 
the same side of the block, (ii) spaced at intervals of no greater than 
1000 mm (39.4 inches) apart as measured from the outer edge of the 
holes, and (iii) with the hole closest to each end of the longest 
centerline located within 1000 mm of the corresponding end of the 
block. Blocks may contain any number of additional holes, channels, or 
grooves in any configuration or location, provided that at least two or 
more holes of at least 150 mm depth are present as described above.
    Further excluded from the scope of the investigation are certain 
TES graphite blocks, anchors, and pins, regardless of shape, which have 
a coefficient of thermal expansion of 1.5 [micro]m/(m[middot]K) or 
greater, and an apparent (also known as bulk) density below 1.74 g/cm3, 
with actual dimensions such that any one or more of the length, width, 
or height is less than 228.6 mm (9.0 inches).
    Background.--The final phase of these investigations is being 
scheduled pursuant to sections 705(b) and 731(b) of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671d(b) and 1673d(b)), as a result of affirmative 
preliminary determinations by Commerce that certain benefits which 
constitute subsidies within the meaning of Sec.  703 of the Act (19 
U.S.C. 1671b) are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or 
exporters in China and India of large diameter graphite electrodes, and 
that such products are being sold in the United States at less than 
fair value within the meaning of Sec.  733 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 
1673b). The investigations were requested in petitions filed on 
February 24, 2026, by Resonac Graphite America Inc., Ridgeville, South 
Carolina; and Tokai Carbon GE LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina.
    For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the 
investigations, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, 
consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, 
subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and C (19 
CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if 
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of these 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec.  201.11 of the 
Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date 
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance 
during

[[Page 67330]]

the preliminary phase of the investigations need not file an additional 
notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary will 
maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses of 
all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the 
investigations.
    Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic 
filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's 
Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, <a href="https://edis.usitc.gov">https://edis.usitc.gov</a>). 
No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic 
filings will be accepted until further notice.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to Sec.  207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in the final phase of these investigations 
available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the 
investigations, provided that the application is made no later than 21 
days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized 
applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9), who are parties to the investigations. A party granted access 
to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not reapply 
for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the 
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Staff report.--The prehearing staff report in the final phase of 
these investigations will be placed in the nonpublic record on January 
26, 2027, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to 
Sec.  207.22 of the Commission's rules.
    Hearing.--The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the 
final phase of these investigations beginning at 9:30 a.m. on February 
9, 2027. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing 
with the Secretary to the Commission on or before February 3, 2027. Any 
requests to appear as a witness via videoconference must be included 
with your request to appear. Requests to appear via videoconference 
must include a statement explaining why the witness cannot appear in 
person; the Chairman, or other person designated to conduct the 
investigations, may in their discretion for good cause shown, grant 
such a request. Requests to appear as remote witness due to illness or 
a positive COVID-19 test result may be submitted by 3:00 p.m. the 
business day prior to the hearing. Further information about 
participation in the hearing will be posted on the Commission's website 
at <a href="https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html">https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html</a>.
    A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the Commission's 
deliberations may request permission to present a short statement at 
the hearing. All parties and nonparties desiring to appear at the 
hearing and make oral presentations should attend a prehearing 
conference, if deemed necessary, to be held at 9:30 a.m. on February 8, 
2027. Parties shall file and serve written testimony and presentation 
slides in connection with their presentation at the hearing by no later 
than noon on February 8, 2027. Oral testimony and written materials to 
be submitted at the public hearing are governed by sections 
201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties 
must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony 
in camera no later than 7 business days prior to the date of the 
hearing.
    Written submissions.--Each party who is an interested party shall 
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must 
conform with the provisions of Sec.  207.23 of the Commission's rules; 
the deadline for filing is 5:15 p.m. on February 2, 2027. Parties shall 
also file written testimony in connection with their presentation at 
the hearing, and posthearing briefs, which must conform with the 
provisions of Sec.  207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for 
filing posthearing briefs is 5:15 p.m. on February 17, 2027. In 
addition, any person who has not entered an appearance as a party to 
the investigations may submit a written statement of information 
pertinent to the subject of the investigations, including statements of 
support or opposition to the petition, on or before 5:15 p.m. on 
February 17, 2027. On March 8, 2027, the Commission will make available 
to parties all information on which they have not had an opportunity to 
comment. Parties may submit final comments on this information on or 
before 5:15 p.m. on March 10, 2027, but such final comments must not 
contain new factual information and must otherwise comply with Sec.  
207.30 of the Commission's rules. All written submissions must conform 
with the provisions of Sec.  201.8 of the Commission's rules; any 
submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the requirements of 
Sec. Sec.  201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's rules. The 
Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures, available on the 
Commission's website at <a href="https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf">https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf</a>, elaborates upon the Commission's 
procedures with respect to filings.
    Additional written submissions to the Commission, including 
requests pursuant to Sec.  201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall not 
be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such submissions, 
or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request by a 
Commissioner or Commission staff.
    In accordance with Sec. Sec.  201.16(c) and 207.3 of the 
Commission's rules, each document filed by a party to the 
investigations must be served on all other parties to the 
investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service 
list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary 
will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.
    Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority 
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published 
pursuant to Sec.  207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: October 21, 2026.
Sharon Bellamy,
Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-21754 Filed 10-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P


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