U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Final Determination in Chinese Graphite Anti-Dumping Investigation

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CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 17, 2026--

Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSE American: WWR), an energy technology and battery-grade natural graphite company (“Westwater” or the “Company”), announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) issued its final determination in the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations of graphite-based anode materials imported from the People’s Republic of China.

The DOC’s preliminary determinations in 2025 imposed countervailing and anti-dumping duties of 11.58% and 93.5%, respectively. In its final determination released on February 11, 2026, the DOC increased the countervailing duty rate to 66.68% and maintained the anti-dumping duty rate at 93.5%.

The Company estimates total penalties on Chinese natural graphite anode material U.S. imports now total approximately 220%:

• IEEPA tariff: 10%
• Section 301 tariffs: 25%
• Section 232 tariffs: 25%
• DOC countervailing duties: 66.68% (previously 11.58%)
• DOC anti-dumping duties: 93.5%
  TOTAL tariffs/duties: ~220.18%

The DOC’s final determination follows a year-long investigation into alleged subsidization of Chinese anode material producers and pricing practices affecting the U.S. market. It remains subject to a final affirmative injury determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”), which is expected in March 2026. If the ITC issues a final affirmative decision, then the DOC duties will remain in effect for a minimum of five years in accordance with applicable U.S. trade law.

The Company believes the combined effect of these trade measures could further increase demand for U.S.-produced natural graphite anode material from buyers within a variety of lithium-ion battery markets including electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems, defense and others.

About Westwater Resources, Inc.

Westwater Resources is an energy technology company that is focused on developing battery-grade natural graphite. Westwater Resources’ primary project is the Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant that is under construction in east-central Alabama. In addition, Westwater Resources’ Coosa Graphite Deposit is the largest and most advanced natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States — and is located across 41,965 acres (~17,000 hectares) in Coosa County, Alabama. For more information, visit westwaterresources.net.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words and phrases such as “increased,” “approximately,” “final,” “preliminary,” “estimates,” “subject to,” “expected,” “believes,” “could further increase,” and other similar words or phrases. Forward looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning: the importance of critical minerals including battery-grade graphite; establishing a graphite industry in the U.S.; tariffs associated with the importation of natural graphite into the U.S. including the percentage of those tariffs and the countries for which tariffs will apply; and the Company’s business plans for its Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant including the sale of the products from that Plant to buyers in lithium-ion battery markets. The Company cautions that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. Those uncertainties and other factors are discussed in Westwater’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent securities filings, and they could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations.

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CONTACT: Westwater Resources, Inc.

Email:[email protected] Relations

Email:[email protected]

KEYWORD: AFRICA AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA UNITED STATES CANADA NORTH AMERICA AUSTRALIA NEVADA COLORADO IDAHO ARIZONA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY OTHER ENERGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT ENERGY BATTERIES MINING/MINERALS WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NATURAL RESOURCES

SOURCE: Westwater Resources, Inc.

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PUB: 02/17/2026 06:00 AM/DISC: 02/17/2026 06:03 AM

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