Telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE are among several Chinese companies that have once again been banned from the United States.
As noted in a press release issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) late last week, Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Dahua Technology, and their subsidiaries and affiliates, can no longer be imported. nor be sold in the country. According to the report, these companies and their products pose a threat to the national security of the United States.
"The FCC is committed to protecting our national security by ensuring that unreliable communications equipment is not allowed to be used within our borders, and we will continue that work here," said FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel.
A matter of national security
He explained that "these new rules are an important part of our ongoing actions to protect the American people from telecommunications-related national security threats."
The consequences go far beyond a simple ban on importing equipment. Public funds also cannot be used to purchase the products and services these companies sell. Eligible US businesses using Chinese hardware can apply for the Secure and Reliable Communications Network Rebate Program to replace it.
In addition, the operating authorities of China's common carriers have been revoked, as per the recommendations of national security agencies, while the submarine cable license approval process has been "updated to better meet national security concerns," the ministry said. FCC. The organization has also launched surveys on IoT security and Internet egress security.
Huawei and ZTE were previously banned in the United States during the Trump presidency. At the time, Trump claimed that the Chinese government could force Huawei to install backdoors into its 5G technology and use it to spy on opponents, an idea the Chinese vehemently denied.
ZTE's ban nearly shut down the company and forced Huawei to abandon Android and create its own mobile operating system, HarmonyOS.