The Trump Administration is considering about making extension to its ban on importing Chinese technology, specifically routers for important infrastructure, such as data centres, telecom networks, and the internet, due to security concerns.
Under the Secure Networks Act, businesses like Huawei, Hikvision, Dahua, Hytera, and ZTE were added to the FCC’s Covered List in 2021. This list contains businesses and goods that the FCC deems to constitute a threat to US national security. Mobile phones, security cameras, and other digital devices may also be included in the list of products manufactured by Chinese enterprises.
However, businesses were allowed to continue selling models that had already been approved by the FCC; the 2021 restriction only applied to new models that the FCC had not approved. The new plan would completely prohibit these businesses, including those previously authorised to sell these products, if adopted.
The commission will decide on whether to approve the rules after receiving comments on the proposal by May 6. Devices already owned won’t be affected by the ban.
“Older models of covered equipment pose an unacceptable risk today when imported or marketed in the United States, not only when such equipment is new to the market,” FCC said in October.
Wi-Fi routers and security cameras are essential components in both the home and the workplace, as millions of consumers and businesses use them daily for internet access and security. On March 23, the Federal Communications Commission surprised the internet sector by effectively outlawing the sale of upcoming Wi-Fi routers manufactured abroad, including those from some of the largest router brands.
Chinese telecom firms have been prohibited from operating in the US in recent years. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2020 that US authorities said Chinese businesses, including Huawei, had tracked sensitive data through backdoor access intended for law enforcement.
While the Trump administration has ramped up its scrutiny of Chinese tech companies lately, this proposal shouldn’t be mistaken for a definitive court ruling regarding telecom imports.
The ban on foreign-made routers was just the latest in a series of rulings that have limited Chinese tech firms from doing business in the United States.
The FCC prohibited the entry of Chinese-made drones into the United States in December. Only a few months prior to that, the government decided to prevent new approvals for any device that used components made by businesses on the Covered List.
