Under the guise of "national security", the FCC creates technical trade barriers and provokes controversy over the testing of electronic products exported to the United States

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on the 7th that it will hold a vote on the 29th of this month to decide whether to ban all Chinese laboratories from providing testing services for electronic devices such as smartphones, cameras, and computers entering the US market, further expanding the restrictions previously imposed on China. During an interview with Global Times on the 8th, Zhou Wei, a researcher at the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, stated that the US move is politicizing technology testing services and artificially creating technical trade barriers. This not only increases the cost and supply chain risks of the US electronics industry, but also impacts the stable operation of the global electronics industry.

According to Reuters, the FCC claims to prohibit testing laboratories and certification bodies from countries, including China, that refuse to provide equivalent treatment to domestic testing laboratories in the United States from conducting related business. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr claims that by 2025, 82% of electronic products will be tested in China, while less than 4% will be tested in laboratories within the United States. The FCC will insist on seeking "fair and equitable treatment" in international trade.

The above-mentioned ban is scheduled to take effect in December 2028. At the same time, the FCC is establishing a simplified approval process for equipment tested by US laboratories or laboratories in countries deemed to have no national security risks.

Regarding this, Zhou Wei stated that the US seems to emphasize the so-called "principle of reciprocity", but in reality, it is attempting to change the long-term market operation mode and restrict Chinese testing institutions from providing services for products related to the US market. He believes that the relevant rules of the World Trade Organization require all parties to avoid technical trade barriers as much as possible from becoming obstacles to international trade. The arbitrary change of testing rules and the increase of unreasonable burdens by the US will make testing services themselves a de facto trade barrier, damaging the sustainability and stability of international trade.

In fact, this is not the first time that the FCC has taken restrictive measures against Chinese testing institutions. Last year, the FCC banned laboratories owned or controlled by the Chinese government from testing electronic products entering the US market, resulting in dozens of laboratories being banned from conducting related business.

It is worth noting that in recent years, the FCC has frequently expanded restrictions on Chinese communication equipment and technology products under the pretext of so-called "national security". In December last year, the agency banned the import of all new models of Chinese drones and new models of consumer grade routers manufactured in China. In June of this year, the FCC further restricted the import of more equipment produced by multiple Chinese manufacturers. In addition, the FCC has also banned some Chinese companies from providing telecommunications services in the United States and proposed restrictions on network interconnection between US telecommunications operators and related Chinese companies.

In response to the FCC's previous plan to ban Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices in the United States, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press conference in April this year that China firmly opposes the US's generalization of national security concepts, which seriously hinders normal economic and trade exchanges between Chinese and American companies and is not in line with the interests of all parties, including American companies and consumers. China will continue to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.