The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of large diameter graphite electrodes (large graphite electrodes) from the People's Republic of China (China). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:BackgroundThis preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Unfinished large diameter graphite electrodes are graphitized electrodes that have not undergone final machining. 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. 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.