China extends anti-dumping duties on Indian optical fibre, signalling tough trade stance

China has decided to prolong anti-dumping tariffs on single-mode optical fibre imported from India for another five years, highlighting Beijing’s persistent use of trade measures to protect domestic industry amid evolving global trade tensions.

China has decided to keep anti-dumping duties on single-mode optical fibre imported from India for another five years, a move that underlines Beijing’s willingness to use trade remedies to protect domestic producers. According to the commerce ministry, the tariff levels will stay at their current range, with duties still set between 7.4% and 30.6% depending on the exporter.

The ministry said a sunset review found that removing the measures could trigger renewed dumping and damage China’s optical fibre industry. Reuters reported that the duties apply to companies including Sterlite Technologies, which faces a 7.4% rate, and Aksh Optifibre and Finolex Cables, both at 30.6%.

Single-mode optical fibre is a key input for telecommunications networks, making the decision commercially significant for Indian exporters and Chinese buyers alike. China first imposed the duties in 2014 and extended them in 2020, reflecting a pattern in which major economies routinely revisit anti-dumping measures through expiry reviews to test whether domestic industries still face injury from imported goods.

The move also fits a broader trade-remedies environment. The UK government has recently maintained anti-dumping duties on optical fibre cables from China after a recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority, while India has also extended anti-dumping duties on several imports, including Chinese seamless pipes and aluminium foil. Together, those cases show how widely used such measures have become in strategic manufacturing sectors where price pressure can quickly reshape market share.