Senate Democrats Question Commerce Approval of Graphite Exports to China

The Commerce Department should reverse its decision to approve more than 455,000 pounds of graphite exports to China, Senate Democrats said, saying the material could be used to expand China’s missile forces. In an Oct. 5 letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, five senators said Commerce recently notified them of the sale, which may have a “dangerous end-use” in bolstering China’s military.

In its notification, Commerce told the lawmakers that the graphite “will not measurably improve” China's “missile or launch capabilities.” The senators disagreed, saying China’s “clear efforts to build a larger and more threatening missile force” make the export problematic. “Any export of material to China that may enable it to further expand its missile forces should raise grave concerns and should never be approved,” said the letter, signed by New Jersey's Bob Menendez, New York's Chuck Schumer, Illinois' Dick Durbin, Rhode Island's Jack Reed and Ohio's Sherrod Brown.

Before allowing the export, the senators asked Commerce to identify the exporter, the customer and the end-user, whether the purchasing entity has ties to the Chinese government or army and whether Commerce can certify if the goods may be resold within China or reexported. The senators also asked Commerce to explain what end-use verification measures are in place for this export; whether the agency spoke with the intelligence community, including the Defense Department, before approving the export; and whether Commerce has determined that the exports will not hurt the U.S. space launch industry and “measurably improve” China’s missile capabilities. Commerce declined to comment.