According to a report by Reuters on October 7, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stated on Wednesday that a vote will be held on October 29 to ban all Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices such as smartphones, cameras, and computers intended for use in the United States. This would expand the measures taken previously against Beijing.
The FCC stated that it will ban testing laboratories and certification agencies from countries that do not provide equivalent treatment to domestic testing laboratories in the United States, including China, from carrying out related activities.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that in 2025, 82 percent of electronic products received testing in China, while there are no relevant agreements between China and the United States.
The FCC’s ban is scheduled to take effect in December 2028.
In 2025, the FCC banned Chinese laboratories from testing American electronic products, resulting in dozens of laboratories being prohibited from conducting related business. However, the FCC this year stated that the majority of testing laboratories located in China are still testing American electronic products.
Brendan Carr said, “Of all electronic devices, less than 4% are tested in laboratories located within the United States.” He also stated that the FCC will “insist on obtaining fair and equal treatment in international commercial activities.”
Additionally, the FCC is implementing simplified approval procedures for devices tested by American laboratories or laboratories from countries that do not pose a risk to national security.
This is a latest crackdown measure by Washington regarding technology and equipment issues against China.
In December last year, the FCC prohibited the import of all new models of Chinese drones. It also prohibited the import of new models of consumer-grade routers manufactured in China, which are devices used to connect computers, smartphones, and smart devices to the internet.
The FCC previously prohibited some Chinese companies from providing telecommunications services in the United States on the grounds of national security concerns.
In July this year, the FCC voted to ban the sale in the United States of devices that contain key hardware from Chinese companies that are considered to pose a national security risk. The FCC also proposed banning US telecommunications operators from establishing network connections with Chinese telecommunications companies that are considered to pose a national security risk.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce previously stated that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has abandoned the principle of technical neutrality, generalized the concept of national security, and without any factual basis, frequently imposes restrictive measures, treating foreign enterprises and products including those from China in a discriminatory manner. This seriously damages the interests of China and other related trading partners.
If the US side insists on acting unilaterally, China will resolutely take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
