BUSINESS

China Slaps Up to 78% Tariffs on U.S. Fiber Optic Imports in First-Ever Anti-Circumvention Case

Published: Sep. 5, 2025 4:26 a.m. GMT+8

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Corning Inc. corporate offices in Corning, New York.

China has imposed steep anti-dumping duties of up to 78.2% on certain U.S.-made fiber optic products starting Sept. 4, according to the Ministry of Commerce, escalating trade frictions between the world’s two largest economies.

The tariffs target a niche category of fibers known as cutoff wavelength-shifted single-mode fiber, or G.654.C fiber, optimized for long-haul and undersea networks. The ministry said U.S. producers were exporting these products to China in order to evade duties already applied to another fiber product.

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China imposed anti-dumping duties up to 78.2% on U.S.-made G.654.C fiber optics starting September 4, 2024.
Major U.S. firms affected include Corning Inc. (37.9%), OFS Fitel LLC (33.3%), and Draka Communications Americas Inc. (78.2%).
Imports of G.654.C fiber to China rose nearly 300-fold between 2018 and 2024 after higher tariffs on G.652 fiber, prompting this measure.

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Who’s Who

Corning Inc.: Corning Inc. is a U.S. producer of fiber optic products. The company will face a 37.9% anti-dumping duty from China on its cutoff wavelength-shifted single-mode fiber (G.654.C fiber) products. This measure is part of escalating trade tensions and builds on previous anti-dumping penalties China imposed on U.S.-origin single-mode fiber.

OFS Fitel LLC: OFS Fitel LLC is a U.S. producer of fiber optic products. They will face a 33.3% anti-dumping duty imposed by China on cutoff wavelength-shifted single-mode fiber (G.654.C fiber) starting September 4. This measure by China escalates trade tensions between the two countries.

Draka Communications Americas Inc.: Draka Communications Americas Inc. is a U.S. producer of fiber optic products. They will face a significant anti-dumping duty of 78.2% on certain U.S.-made fiber optic products (G.654.C fiber) exported to China. This tariff, imposed by China's Ministry of Commerce, escalates trade tensions and is part of China's efforts to counteract the evasion of existing duties on another fiber product (G.652 fiber).

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Ltd. Co.: Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Ltd. Co. (YOFC) requested the anti-circumvention investigation into U.S.-made fiber optic products. YOFC claimed that increased G.654.C imports undermined existing duties on G.652 fiber, arguing both fiber types have similar specifications and uses.

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