美国准备对中国电池材料下手，专家：美以补贴为借口，实质出于政治考量

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Department of Commerce has preliminarily ruled that Chinese key battery components, specifically active anode materials, are receiving substantial government subsidies, paving the way for potential anti-subsidy tariffs against China. This action is perceived as politically motivated rather than purely economic [1]. Group 1: Investigation and Findings - On May 20, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its ruling on the investigation into active anode materials from China, claiming that two Chinese companies did not fully cooperate, leading to an assumption of a subsidy rate exceeding 700%, while other Chinese companies were estimated to have a subsidy rate of 6.55% [1]. - Active anode materials are crucial components in electric vehicle batteries, primarily composed of graphite and silicon, directly affecting battery performance, lifespan, and safety [1]. Group 2: Market Dependency and Supply Chain - Bloomberg reports that China supplies a significant portion of the world's graphite, with U.S. imports relying on China for 59% of natural graphite and 68% of synthetic graphite [1]. - The investigation into Chinese active anode materials began on December 18 of the previous year, initiated by a complaint from the U.S. Active Anode Materials Producers Alliance regarding subsidy issues [1]. Group 3: Legislative Actions - The investigation is separate from the broader tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on trade partners and differs from proposed additional tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals [2]. - In March, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Decoupling from Foreign Adversaries Act," which prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing batteries from six Chinese companies, including CATL and BYD, aiming to reduce China's dominance in the battery supply chain [2].