The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States proposed on Friday (April 3) to ban the import of equipment from certain manufacturers in China. The FCC had already halted the approval of new equipment from these manufacturers entering the U.S. market back in 2022. This proposal on Friday marks the latest move by the U.S. to combat Chinese-manufactured electronic devices.
According to the FCC on Friday, the institution is seeking comments on the proposal of whether the U.S. should ban the import and sale of certain previously authorized equipment. These devices have been deemed to pose unacceptable risks to U.S. national security or the safety of American citizens.
The FCC stated that its preliminary conclusion is that prohibiting the continued import and sale of these devices is necessary to protect national security and reduce risks in the U.S. communication sector.
The proposal by the FCC would allow U.S. citizens to continue using the communication equipment they have already purchased. The regulatory body also mentioned that once the relevant orders are finalized, immediate import bans could be put in place to “prevent a rush to import new equipment.”
The regulatory body proposed that all parties must cease all import and sales activities within 30 days of the ban coming into effect.
In 2021, the FCC included telecommunications and video surveillance equipment produced by companies such as Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua on a controlled list. This list identifies companies that pose threats to U.S. national security.
In November 2022, the FCC decided to prohibit the approval of new products imported or sold from these Chinese companies.
Due to national security considerations, the FCC has implemented multiple measures targeting Chinese tech products. In May of last year, the FCC unanimously passed a regulation to officially ban Chinese laboratory-tested smartphones, cameras, and computers deemed to pose risks to U.S. national security from being used in the American market. In December, the FCC banned the import of all new models of Chinese drones.
Last month, the FCC announced a ban on importing all new consumer-grade routers manufactured abroad. This move further restricts Chinese-made electronic devices out of national security concerns. A significant number of Chinese-made routers in the American market will be affected. Chairman of the Republican-led Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party in the House of Representatives, John Moolenaar, praised the FCC’s ban in a statement, stating that this significant decision “protects our country from ongoing Chinese (CCP) cyber-attacks and clearly indicates that these devices should be excluded from our critical infrastructure.”
(Reference from Reuters.)