U.S. tech restrictions on China escalate further.
According to Reuters, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on October 7 that it plans to vote on a new regulation on October 29, aiming to prohibit all Chinese laboratories from conducting testing for electronic devices such as smartphones, cameras, and computers used in the United States. The ban is scheduled to take effect in December 2028. This marks the latest move by Washington in its broader strategy targeting China over technology and equipment issues.
The latest action represents another round of intensified pressure on China within the global electronics supply chain. Last May, the FCC had already restricted dozens of Chinese labs from carrying out related testing activities, citing alleged "national security risks." The current proposal extends the scope of these restrictions. U.S. officials claim the measure is intended to ensure "fair and reciprocal trade," arguing that 82% of electronic products exported to the United States undergo testing in China, while fewer than 4% are processed by U.S.-based laboratories.
A review of recent policy developments reveals a consistent pattern of coordinated measures by the FCC. In December of last year, the commission banned imports of new Chinese-made drones and consumer-grade routers. In June this year, it expanded the prohibition to restrict equipment from companies such as Huawei and ZTE from entering the market, with plans to also ban military-grade drones. A subsequent vote in July prohibited the sale of devices incorporating hardware deemed "high-risk" by the FCC, and proposed severing network interconnectivity between U.S. telecommunications carriers and Chinese telecom firms implicated in the restrictions. From finished devices to core components, the regulatory chain now extends upstream to include testing and certification—indicating a continuous deepening of control across the supply chain.
It is evident that the U.S. argument of "fairness" serves as a pretext. The underlying objective appears to be the broadening of national security concerns to justify forced de-linking of the global industrial ecosystem from China. Global electronics specialization is the outcome of years of market-driven choices. Chinese laboratories have gained a significant share of testing work due to their mature technologies and cost advantages, aligning with established patterns of international trade. Forcibly disrupting this cooperation will inevitably raise testing costs for American companies, with the burden ultimately passed on to consumers and undermining the stability of global supply chains.
Technological competition should be governed by market principles and driven by innovation, not by administrative barriers. While unilateral restrictions may create short-term obstacles, they run counter to the tide of globalization and cannot ultimately impede China’s steady advancement in science and technology.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878493988463623/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of any official body.