US Slaps 93.5 Percent Tariff on Chinese Graphite Imports Amid Escalating Trade Tensions and Supply Chain Disruption

It’s Monday, July 21st, 2025, and welcome to China Tariff News and Tracker. The big story this week is the U.S. government’s move to hit Chinese graphite imports with a staggering 93.5 percent tariff. The Commerce Department has set this preliminary rate following an antidumping investigation, which found that China has been selling graphite at less than fair value, supported by extensive subsidies. This new tariff comes on top of an existing preliminary countervailing duty of 11.58 percent on the same commodity. The Commerce Department is expected to announce final rates by December, but for now, the 93.5 percent tariff marks one of the highest penalties ever imposed on a Chinese critical mineral, a strategic supply chain material that is used heavily by the U.S. auto and battery industries. According to industry data, China produced 78 percent of the world’s graphite in 2024 and supplied more than two-thirds of all graphite imported into the U.S. last year, making this a direct hit to both nations’ supply chains. This move is part of a broader tariff strategy under the Trump administration, which has returned to aggressive trade action to counter what it calls unfair Chinese trade practices while aiming to boost U.S. production of critical minerals, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. Earlier this year, Trump ordered a flat 10 percent tariff across all Chinese imports, citing national security concerns, especially around fentanyl and critical technology. As reported by Made-in-China Insights, this 10 percent base tariff is now foundational, but sector-specific surcharges, like those on graphite and proposed levies on semiconductors, are multiplying. This summer has brought volatility and confusion across the business world. The administration temporarily reduced general tariffs on Chinese imports from a peak of 145 percent down to 10 percent for a 90-day window, but those rates are set to rise again soon. Amazon sellers and major U.S. retailers scrambled to stock up while the window was open, but all eyes are now on August 12th. As of that date, most products imported from China could face a 34 percent tariff, while specific “strategic sectors” and goods flagged for national security get hit even harder. E-commerce analysts, like those from DataWeave, note that prices on China-made goods have already climbed 2.6 percent so far in 2025, especially in categories like electronics and home goods. According to DW News and China-US Focus, President Trump’s approach reflects his so-called “America First” doctrine, using tariffs rather than sanctions for rapid, high-visibility economic action. Tariffs directly address the U.S.-China trade deficit, which reached $295 billion last year, and fill federal coffers, with tariff income up by over 100 percent year-on-year. But with industry leaders warning of supply chain paralysis and inflation concerns mounting, the next few weeks will be pivotal. The threat of “secondary tariffs” targeting countries a This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.