China Imposes Anti-Circumvention Measures on US Optical Fiber Imports

China's Ministry of Commerce has imposed anti-circumvention measures on certain U.S. optical fiber imports, effective Thursday. The move aims to protect China's domestic optical fiber industry from unfair trade practices. The measures will target optical fibers originating in the United States that are imported into China through countries like Vietnam. This move is seen as a response to the U.S. trade policies, particularly the Section 301 tariffs imposed on Chinese goods.

China's Ministry of Commerce has implemented new anti-circumvention tariffs on certain U.S. optical fiber imports, effective Thursday. The move is aimed at protecting China's domestic optical fiber industry from unfair trade practices. The tariffs will target optical fibers originating in the United States and imported into China through countries like Vietnam. This action is seen as a response to the U.S. trade policies, particularly the Section 301 tariffs imposed on Chinese goods.

The new tariffs, ranging from 33.3% to 78.2%, were imposed after a six-month investigation found that U.S. companies had circumvented existing anti-dumping measures. Corning Inc., OFS Fitel LLC, and Draka Communications Americas Inc. are among the companies affected, with Corning facing a 37.9% levy, OFS Fitel LLC at 33.3%, and Draka Communications Americas Inc. at 78.2% [1].

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce cited its investigation findings, stating that U.S. fiber makers and exporters had changed their trading methods to bypass existing anti-dumping duties, which it deemed as evasion of the country’s anti-dumping rules. The new duties are set to last until April 21, 2028, the same date as for the 2023 measures [1].

The move comes swiftly after a recent Trump administration initiative to curb China’s chipmaking capacity. Neo Wang, lead China macro analyst at Evercore ISI, suggested that China may be using this as a reminder to Washington to refrain from actions that could harm mutual trust and spoil the atmosphere for trade talks [1].

The new tariffs add to ongoing trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, which have seen disputes escalate across sectors from technology to agriculture. The tariffs are part of a broader strategy by China to protect its domestic industries from foreign competition [2].

Meanwhile, the U.S. Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has extended the exclusions of certain Chinese imports from Section 301 tariffs. The exclusions, previously extended in June, now cover 178 items, including chemical materials, electronic components, medical supplies, and solar manufacturing equipment. These products will continue to be spared from levies of 7.5 to 25% that were imposed on Chinese imports during the Trump administration [3, 4].

The new tariffs and extensions highlight the ongoing trade tensions between the two economic giants. As these tensions persist, investors should closely monitor developments and consider the potential impacts on their portfolios.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-03/china-hits-us-optical-fiber-imports-with-anti-dumping-tariffs?srnd=homepage-americas
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/te_news:482680:0-china-slaps-anti-dumping-duties-on-u-s-optical-fiber/
[3] https://www.thompsonhinesmartrade.com/2025/09/ustr-continues-extension-of-limited-product-exclusions-for-china-section-301-tariffs/
[4] https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3323659/90-more-days-us-extends-exclusions-some-chinese-imports-section-301-tariffs