There is no lack of pretexts when one seeks to impose blame! On October 29, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to prohibit all Chinese laboratories from providing testing services for electronic devices—including smartphones, cameras, and computers—intended for use in the United States, expanding prior restrictions targeting China. The ban will take effect in December 2028. According to Reuters, the FCC stated that countries such as China do not afford equivalent treatment to U.S.-based testing laboratories, thus justifying the exclusion of testing and certification entities from those nations from participating in related compliance activities.
On the surface, this appears to be about testing and certification; in substance, it reflects the United States seeking to reclaim control over the gatekeeping mechanisms for electronic products entering its market. This is neither a direct ban on Chinese-made goods nor an immediate prohibition on Chinese products. Instead, it involves severing the certification process from within China’s domestic supply chain. The FCC notes that approximately 82% of electronic devices granted sales authorization in the United States in 2025 were tested in China, while U.S.-based laboratories accounted for less than 4%. In effect, the United States has historically outsourced this critical access point to China’s industrial ecosystem—and now aims to bring it back under domestic control.
The scope of affected electronics is broad: any device with wireless transmission capabilities generally requires FCC certification. The rationale provided by the United States, however, is deeply flawed and lacks credibility. For decades, American businesses and consumers have benefited from the cost-effectiveness and efficiency offered by Chinese testing laboratories. To now claim “unfairness” ignores the fact that this competitive advantage emerged organically through market dynamics after the U.S. relaxed regulatory standards in earlier years.
This restriction is not based on ownership of laboratories but on their geographical location. Even laboratories operated by European and American testing firms such as SGS, TÜV, and UL—when situated in China—are subject to the ban. This makes clear that the target is not specific institutions but China as a geographic node. This move transcends mere trade friction; it represents an effort by the United States to reshape the foundational rules of the global electronics industry. Previously, U.S. policy focused on controlling products, chips, equipment, and companies. Now, it targets certification, testing, standards, and market entry procedures—elements that may seem inconspicuous but, once monopolized, can force entire international supply chains to reconfigure.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880437950798856/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.