BEIJING (Reuters) -China will impose tariffs of up to 78.2% on certain U.S. optical fibre imports from September 4, the commerce ministry said in a statement a few minutes before midnight on Wednesday, accusing American producers of skirting anti-dumping measures.
The levies cover a type known as cut-off shifted single-mode optical fibre, the ministry said, singling out Corning, OFS-Felite and Drake Communications for duty rates of 37.9%, 33.3% and 78.2% respectively, with other U.S. firms also paying the highest rate.
China bought just over $140 million worth of the targeted type of fibre in 2024, customs data showed, though the commerce ministry stated that not every product listed under that tariff code would be subject to the duties.
The duties are anti-circumvention tariffs, designed to stop firms evading existing anti-dumping or countervailing duties.
The commerce ministry said an investigation launched on March 4 had concluded that U.S. exporters were getting around anti-dumping measures aimed at dispersion unshifted single-mode optical fibre by shipping the type targeted by the new levies.
Cut-off shifted single-mode optical fibre is used mainly in long-haul telecommunication networks, especially in challenging or remote regions, or underwater.
The duties will remain until April 2028.
(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Kim Coghill and Christopher Cushing)
