Korean anode materials makers are accelerating plans to localise synthetic graphite as a U.S. route for Chinese graphite shifts from high tariffs to tax credit eligibility requirements. With capacity expansions and long-term supply contracts largely concentrated in 2027, domestic cell makers have limited options to replace Chinese materials before then. Import prices have fallen, but U.S. 45X rules on prohibited foreign entities tighten from 2026.

A controversy has erupted after it emerged that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission subscribed to a database containing more than 1 billion global airline booking records and used it to track personal travel. The data included names, payment information, origin and destination cities and flight numbers, and the SEC used automated alerts to flag new bookings. Critics say buying such data may bypass legal procedures. ARC said the program aimed to prevent crime and bolster national security.