U.S. Issues New Rules Banning Import and Sale of "China Devices Involved in Cybersecurity Risks"

According to the official website of the U.S. Defense Democracy Foundation, on June 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took action to ban the import and sale of all equipment and services produced by companies listed on the "Restricted List." This list specifically targets foreign companies and their equipment deemed to pose a threat to U.S. national security. The updated rules close a loophole that previously allowed companies to continue selling older models of devices approved before they were added to the restricted list.

The FCC's move imposes comprehensive restrictions on Chinese equipment still considered to present significant national security risks. The new regulations aim to "protect America's core networks from intrusion by adversaries."

In practice, the commission’s action bans the import of all equipment produced by companies placed on the Restricted List in 2024 or earlier—including Chinese telecom giants Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, and Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. Although several of these companies have been prohibited since 2022 from importing new devices, the new rule retroactively revokes existing device authorizations, effectively blocking their products from entering the U.S. market.

However, although the FCC has stated in its decision that newly banned devices pose national security risks if connected to U.S. networks, companies currently operating such devices are not yet required to replace them. Additionally, the FCC has not rescinded existing device authorizations for products added to the Restricted List within the past year—this includes surveillance and imaging equipment produced by Chinese drone manufacturer DJI and Autel Robotics, as well as all routers manufactured abroad.

The FCC has recently taken a series of measures to curb Chinese telecom risks: first requiring submarine cable terminal operators to hold licenses to prevent Chinese influence over core networks; then banning foreign drones like DJI and restricting sales of new routers from brands such as TP-Link. While the Department of Commerce has eased export controls on China, the FCC has stepped in forcefully under the guise of national security, becoming the new frontline in efforts to block China’s technological advancement.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869479392075849/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.