The Federal Communications Commission has proposed expanding restrictions on Chinese-made telecommunications and surveillance equipment, marking another step by the Trump administration to tighten controls over foreign technology linked to national security concerns.
The proposal would extend existing rules to block not only new products but also the continued import of previously approved equipment from companies already on the FCC’s “Covered List.” These include Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera.
The regulator stated that the move is aimed at mitigating risks to U.S. communications infrastructure. If finalized, the rule could quickly halt further imports of affected devices to prevent a surge in last-minute shipments.
The FCC had already banned approvals of new equipment from these firms in 2022, following earlier decisions to classify them as national security threats. The current proposal seeks to close regulatory gaps by targeting legacy devices still entering the U.S. market.
Despite the stricter stance, the FCC clarified that consumers and businesses would still be allowed to use equipment already in operation.
The proposal comes amid broader U.S. actions against Chinese technology, including recent restrictions on drones and consumer networking devices. Legal challenges are ongoing, with Hikvision contesting earlier FCC rulings in court.
The move underscores escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over technology supply chains and infrastructure security.
