Not declarable on its own: use one of its 2 subdivisionsData: EU Combined Nomenclature, in force from 1 January 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
8544 Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including coaxial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors:
8544 70 00 Optical fibre cables
What you pay
Importing into EU
Customs dutyFree standard rate depends on the country of origin
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 11
Anti-dumping dutyDefinitive anti-dumping duty88%
Only for
8544 70 00 10 Single mode optical fibre cables, made up of one or more individually sheathed fibres, with protective casing, whether or not containing electric conductors; excluding cables in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities and plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
8544 70 00 10 Single mode optical fibre cables, made up of one or more individually sheathed fibres, with protective casing, whether or not containing electric conductors; excluding cables in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities and plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
Applies to goods from
India
Legal act
Regulation 1135/25
Rates for named exporters (10)
Company
Rate
Birla Cable Ltd; Universal Cables Ltd; Vindhya Telelinks Ltd 89CF
8544 70 00 91 Cables equal to or above 500 metres in length in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities, excluding plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
Applies to goods from
India
Legal act
Regulation 1135/25
Rates for named exporters (10)
Company
Rate
Birla Cable Ltd; Universal Cables Ltd; Vindhya Telelinks Ltd 89CF
8544 70 00 10 Single mode optical fibre cables, made up of one or more individually sheathed fibres, with protective casing, whether or not containing electric conductors; excluding cables in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities and plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
8544 70 00 10 Single mode optical fibre cables, made up of one or more individually sheathed fibres, with protective casing, whether or not containing electric conductors; excluding cables in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities and plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
Applies to goods from
India
Legal act
Regulation 1135/25
Rates for named exporters (10)
Company
Rate
Birla Cable Ltd; Universal Cables Ltd; Vindhya Telelinks Ltd 89CF
8544 70 00 91 Cables equal to or above 500 metres in length in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities, excluding plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
Applies to goods from
India
Legal act
Regulation 1135/25
Rates for named exporters (10)
Company
Rate
Birla Cable Ltd; Universal Cables Ltd; Vindhya Telelinks Ltd 89CF
Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
Applies to goods from
North Korea
Legal act
Regulation 1509/17
Documents
Y920 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure
Import control
Applies to goods from
Iran
Legal act
Regulation 0267/12
Documents
Y250 Exemptions from prohibition by virtue of Article 6. a,b and c (Annex I - II Reg 267/2012)
Y251 Exemptions from prohibition by virtue of Article 6. (d) and (e) (Annex I - II Reg 267/2012)
Y750 The declared goods are not concerned by Council Regulation (EC) No. 267/2012, Annex II
Import control
Applies to goods from
Belarus, Ukraine
Legal act
Regulation 0765/06, Regulation 0692/14
Documents
Y727 The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 3)
Y728 The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 4)
L152 Import authorisation by virtue of article 1ra paragraph 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 765/2006
Y870 Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 8f of Regulation (EU) No 765/2006)
Y997 Goods not originating from or destined to Crimea or Sevastopol (Articles 2 and 2b.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014)
N864 Invoice declaration or origin declaration made out by any exporter on invoice or any other commercial document
L142 Import authorisation by virtue of article 3i paragraph 3c of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
Y874 The prohibitions defined in article 3i.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 do not apply (see exemptions in article 3i.3aa)
L143 Import authorisation by virtue of article 12b.2 of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
Y859 Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 12e of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014)
Import control
Applies to goods from
Ukraine
Legal act
Regulation 0263/22
Documents
Y984 Goods not originating from or not destined for the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia
N864 Invoice declaration or origin declaration made out by any exporter on invoice or any other commercial document
TARIC subdivisions
Declare the 10-digit TARIC code that fits the goods: measures can differ between subdivisions.
8544 70 00 10
Single mode optical fibre cables, made up of one or more individually sheathed fibres, with protective casing, whether or not containing electric conductors; excluding cables in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities and plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
8544 70 00 91
Cables equal to or above 500 metres in length in which all the optical fibres are individually fitted with operational connectors at one or both extremities, excluding plastic insulated cables for submarine use containing a copper or aluminium conductor in which fibres are contained in metal module(s)
8544 70 00 99
Other
Export measures 11
Prohibitions, licences, controls and sanctions that apply when these goods leave the EU.
Export measures
Destination
Legal act
Validity
Export prohibitionSanctions regime: North Korea
North Korea
Regulation 0285/18
28 February 2018
Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus
Belarus
Regulation 0765/06
1 July 2024
Export controlSanctions regime: Crimea and Sevastopol
Ukraine
Regulation 0692/14
25 February 2025
Export controlSanctions regime: Russia
Russia
Regulation 0833/14
26 June 2024
Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: North Korea
North Korea
Regulation 1509/17
1 September 2017
Export controlSanctions regime: North Korea
North Korea
Regulation 1509/17
11 April 2025
Export controlSanctions regime: Iran
Iran
Regulation 0267/12
30 September 2025
Export controlSanctions regime: Non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine
Ukraine
Regulation 0263/22
25 August 2022
Export controlSanctions regime: Russia
Russia
Regulation 0833/14
24 June 2023
Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus
Belarus
Regulation 0765/06
25 February 2025
Export authorization (Dual use)
All third countries
Regulation 2003/25
15 November 2025
TARIC data as of 26 October 2026
Import VAT in the EU member states
The rate each member state applies to goods of this code, from the Commission’s Taxes in Europe Database. A reduced rate can cover only part of the goods under a code: check the national VAT law.
Austria20%
Belgium21%
Bulgaria20%
Croatia25%
Cyprus3% reduced rate
Czechia21%
Denmark25%
Estonia24%
Finland25.5%
France20%
Germany19%
Greece24%
Hungary27%
Ireland23%
Italy22%
Latvia21%
Lithuania21%
Luxembourg17%
Malta18%
Netherlands21%
Poland23%
Portugal23%
Romania21%
Slovakia23%
Slovenia22%
Spain21%
Sweden25%
TEDB · 26 October 2026
EU: imports by month · HS 8544.70
last 12 months€1.1bn+13.9% · previous 12 months
Average import price€22.63 per kg
Preferential rate0%
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
The tariff classification of an optical fiber cable from Japan
600015156HMRC25 March 2026 – 24 March 2029 · 8544 70 00 91
Optical fibre cables used in telecommunications for the transmission of data and signals, intended for standard outdoor installation or installation in ducts. The goods are made of individually sheathed optical fibres, including conventional single-mode optical fibres and hollow-core optical…
600015057HMRC24 March 2026 – 23 March 2029 · 8544 70 00 99
Optical fibre cables used in telecommunications for the transmission of data and signals, based on the propagation of optical signals within optical fibres rather than the transmission of electrical signals through metallic conductors. The goods are made of individually sheathed optical fibres,…
600012861HMRC6 May 2025 – 5 May 2028 · 8544 70 00 99
Single Mode fibre optic cables. A Single Mode cable made from Bare Fibres, Aramid Yarn, and DCA pellets. Made by firstly preheating the optical fibres, coating, and colouring to protect the bare fibres and ensure their mechanical and physical properties. Then, a layer of protective material such…
The European Commission's explanatory notes on how to classify goods in these CN codes. They are not legally binding but customs authorities follow them; they complement the HS Explanatory Notes of the World Customs Organization.
8544 · Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including coaxial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical-fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors
This heading does not include:
(a) flexible electrical conductors, in the form of printed circuits (heading 8534 00);
(b) separately presented connectors and adapters, for cables or other electrical conductors (heading 8535 or 8536);
(c) connectors for optical-fibre cables (subheading 8536 70 00).
8544 70 00 · Optical fibre cables
This subheading also includes optical-fibre cables, designed for example for telecommunication use, made up of one or more optical fibres of heading 9001 which are individually coated with a dual layer of acrylate polymer. The coating consists of an inner layer of soft acrylate and an outer layer of hard acrylate, the latter may be coloured or coated by a layer of different colours to permit the identification of the fibres. The optical fibres are individually sheathed by the dual layer coating; they do not form an optical fibre cable of heading 8544 by themselves until placed in a protective casing.
The dual layer coating of the individual optical fibres provides protection and structural integrity, for example by protecting the individual fibres against fracture and abrasion.
Example of the structure of an individually sheathed optical fibre of heading 9001:
1. Optical fibre core (Glass fibre core);
2. Optical fibre cladding (Glass);
3. Inner layer of soft acrylate coating;
4. Outer layer of hard acrylate coating;
5. Colour coding identification.
Examples of optical fibre cables of heading 8544 made up of individually sheathed fibres placed in a protective casing:
The Combined Nomenclature of each year, as published in the Official Journal: description, third-country duty and supplementary unit.
Year
Description
Third-country duty
Supplementary unit
2026
Optical fibre cables
Free
—
2025
unchanged
Free
—
2024
unchanged
Free
—
2023
unchanged
Free
—
2022
unchanged
Free
—
2021
unchanged
Free
—
2020
unchanged
Free
—
2019
Optical fibre cables
Free
—
CN code 8544 70 00 is a line of the EU Combined Nomenclature under HS subheading 8544.70 (insulated: optical fibre cables).
The third-country duty is free, and quantities are declared in —.
In the EU, anti-dumping duty of 88% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from China (until 19 November 2026).
In the EU, anti-dumping duty of 4.5% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from India.
Imports of optical fibre cables (HS 8544.70) into the EU came to €1.1bn between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 14% on the year before); China supplied 33%, followed by United States.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is free, the Türkiye duty is free, the US duty is free, the Canada duty is free, the Mexico duty is 35%, the Brazil duty is 0%–20%, the Argentina duty is 0%–12.6%, the Peru duty is free, the New Zealand duty is free, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is free, the GCC duty is free, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is free and the Nigeria duty is 5%.
EU member states imported goods of subheading 8544.70 worth US$2bn in 2024; the largest supplier from outside the EU was China, and the United Kingdom ranked 4th with US$72m.
Questions and answers
What is the EU import duty for CN code 8544 70 00?
The third-country duty in the EU Combined Nomenclature is free; the supplementary unit is —. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Do anti-dumping or other extra duties apply to 8544 70 00?
Anti-dumping duty of 88% on goods from China, until 19 November 2026; Anti-dumping duty of 4.5% on goods from India; Countervailing duty of 10.3% on goods from China, until 20 January 2027; Countervailing duty of 8.1% on goods from India. These are charged on top of the customs duty.
Where does the EU import these goods from?
For subheading 8544.70 as a whole, the largest supplier from outside the EU in 2024 was China (US$247m), followed by the United States.
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EU Combined Nomenclature · CN code · 
China
United States
Norway
United Kingdom
Indonesia
Switzerland
India
Japan
Türkiye
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
Argentina
Peru
New Zealand
Taiwan
GCC
North Macedonia
Nigeria