1. On 07/30/2026, Commerce published in the Federal Register its affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of large diameter graphite electrodes from the People's Republic of China (subject merchandise) (91 FR 48076). Additionally, Commerce has aligned the deadline for the final determination in the CVD investigation with the deadline for the final determination in the companion antidumping duty investigation of the same merchandise, currently scheduled to be issued no later than 12/7/2026. 2. The merchandise covered by this investigation has changed. The merchandise covered by this investigation includes 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. Large diameter graphite electrodes and graphite pin joining systems for large diameter graphite electrodes that are covered by the investigation are currently classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) statistical reporting number 8545.11.0020. Merchandise covered by the investigation may also enter under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers 3801.10.5090 or 3801.90.0050. The HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, but the written description of the scope is dispositive. 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 µm/(m-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 µm/(m-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). 3. This proceeding has been assigned case number C-570-221. 4. CBP shall suspend liquidation of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 07/30/2026 (the date of publication of the preliminary determination), and shall require, for such entries, a cash deposit equal to the percentages of entered value for the producers and/or exporters listed below. Producer and/or Exporter: Dantan New Materials Co., Ltd Case Number: C-570-221-001 Cash Deposit: 103.49 percent Producer and/or Exporter: Shanxi Juxian Graphite New Material Co., Ltd Case Number: C-570-221-002 Cash Deposit: 103.49 percent Producer and/or Exporter: All Others Case Number: C-570-221-000 Cash Deposit Rate: 103.49 % 5. If a producer/exporter combination cash deposit rate does not exist for the producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, then the following instructions apply: A. If both the producer and the exporter of the subject merchandise have their own cash deposit rates, and their rates differ, the applicable cash deposit rate will be the higher of these two rates. B. If the producer of the subject merchandise has its own rate, but the exporter does not have its own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the producer's rate. C. If the exporter of the subject merchandise has its own rate, but the producer does not have its own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the exporter's rate. D. Where neither the exporter nor the producer has its own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the All Others rate. 6. If there are any questions by the public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OIV:JM.) 7. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur