![An Indian flag is flown next to the Chinese national emblem outside the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, Oct. 23, 2013.](https://img.designdevelopmenttoday.com/files/base/indm/multi/image/2020/08/AP20226277705379.5f3553975d54e.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&rect=0%2C99%2C1920%2C1080&w=400)
BEIJING (AP) — China’s Commerce Ministry said Thursday it has extended punitive tariffs on Indian optical fiber products for five years.
The announcement follows a yearlong review after a previous tariff expired in 2019. It takes effect Aug. 14.
It is unclear if the move is in any way related to a recent bout of antagonisms between the Asian giants linked to a border clash in which 20 Indian soldiers died.
The tariffs on single-mode optical fiber range from 7.4% to 30.6% and were first imposed in August 2014.
Optical fiber is used in telecommunications networks.
Earlier this month, India kept in place tariffs on Chinese-made solar power products that were imposed to protect its own manufacturers.