China hits US optical-fibre imports with anti-dumping tariffs
The levies are the same as those that the Asian nation has been imposing on America dispersion unshifted single-mode optical fibre since April 2023
[LONDON] China started imposing levies on additional US optical fibre imports after a six-month investigation found that American companies circumvented the country’s anti-dumping measures.
The duties, ranging from 33.3 per cent to 78.2 per cent, took effect on Thursday (Sep 4) Beijing time on “certain cut-off shifted single-mode optical fibre” from the US, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
Among the companies subject to the new duties, Corning now faces a 37.9 per cent levy, OFS Fitel is at 33.3 per cent and Draka Communications Americas has a 78.2 per cent duty.
Corning shares, which had been up nearly 2 per cent in New York trading on Wednesday, tumbled as much as 3 per cent before clawing back those losses to trade marginally higher.
Citing its investigation findings, the Chinese ministry ruled that US fibre makers and exporters changed their trading methods to bypass existing anti-dumping duties and that counted as evasion of the country’s anti-dumping rules.
The levies are the same as those that China has been imposing on US dispersion unshifted single-mode optical fibre since April 2023. The new duties are set to last until Apr 21, 2028, the same date as for the 2023 measures, the ministry added.
While Beijing’s investigation was launched back in March, the move to impose the tariffs this week comes swift on the heels of a fresh Trump administration initiative to curb China’s chipmaking capacity.
“The decision appears to be a response to the US pulling its waiver for China shipments of chip supplies containing US technology, said Neo Wang, lead China macro analyst at Evercore ISI. China may be intending it as a “reminder that Washington should refrain from actions hurting mutual trust and spoiling the atmosphere for trade talks”, he said.
China’s ministry also said in its statement that companies affected by the new levy can dispute the ruling by applying for a review or filing lawsuits on a court of law. BLOOMBERG
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
