The European Commission has imposed anti-dumping duties on Indian optical fiber cable manufacturers, following a thorough investigation. This ruling, driven by a complaint from Europacable on behalf of the European optical fiber cable (OFC) industry, aims to protect European manufacturers from unfair pricing practices.
The investigation, initiated on October 3, 2023, found evidence of dumping by Indian exporters, leading to the imposition of duties on all Indian OFC manufacturers, except for HFCL and its subsidiary HTL Limited. HFCL‘s exemption is attributed to its full cooperation and transparency during the investigation, which demonstrated adherence to fair trade practices and international regulations.
This decision mirrors past actions against Chinese OFC imports, where the European Commission had previously imposed and later increased anti-dumping duties to counteract evasive measures by Chinese exporters. The exemption of HFCL underscores its commitment to fair trade, setting a benchmark for other Indian manufacturers and bolstering India’s reputation in global manufacturing, in line with the “Make in India for the World” initiative.
HFCL’s exemption is also seen as a significant boost to Europe’s digitalization efforts. High-quality optical fiber cables are crucial for enhancing digital infrastructure and expanding high-speed internet access across the continent.
Chronology of events:
- October 3, 2023: Europacable files a complaint, initiating anti-dumping proceedings on imports from India.
- November 16, 2023: Notices sent to Indian OFC manufacturers; European Commission requests initial sales data from selected companies.
- January 5, 2024: HFCL cooperates fully, providing comprehensive data on manufacturing, sales, exports, and pricing from October 2022 to September 2023, plus records for the past three financial years.
- April 11-22, 2024: European Commission conducts physical verification at HFCL’s facilities, examining price undercutting.
- June 14, 2024: European Commission issues a provisional ruling, exempting HFCL from anti-dumping duties.
Scope of anti-dumping duties: The duties apply to single-mode optical fiber cables from India, excluding cables under 500 meters with connectors and submarine cables with plastic insulation and metal modules.
This ruling reinforces HFCL’s position in the European market and sets a precedent for fair trade in the international optical fiber cable industry.
