TMTPOST -- The U.S. Commerce Department has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties of 93.5% on Chinese graphite imports, a key material used in electric vehicle batteries, after determining that the products were being sold at unfairly low prices. The decision follows a petition filed in December by a U.S. industry group, the American Active Anode Material Producers, which urged federal agencies to investigate potential violations of anti-dumping regulations by Chinese firms. The group said the new duties, combined with existing tariffs, will raise the total effective rate to around 160%. The Commerce Department released its preliminary ruling on Thursday, with a final decision expected by December 5. The move marks another escalation in trade tensions between the U.S. and China, as Washington intensifies scrutiny of critical mineral imports tied to clean energy supply chains.