© Reuters FILE PHOTO: A man stands next to a Huawei sign at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Shanghai, China, September 1, 2022.
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By Diane Bartz and Alexandra Alper
(Reuters) – The Biden administration has blocked approval of new telecommunications equipment from China’s Huawei Technologies and ZTE (HK: ) because they pose an “unacceptable risk” to U.S. national security.
The US Federal Communications Commission announced on Friday that it had approved final rules barring the sale or importation of new equipment made by Chinese surveillance equipment maker Dahua Technology Co, video surveillance firm Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Corp and telecom company Hytera Communications. Corp Ltd.
The move is the latest crackdown by Washington on Chinese technology facilities amid fears Beijing is using them to spy on Americans.
“These new rules are an important part of our continued efforts to protect the American public from telecommunications-related national security threats,” FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.
Huawei declined to comment. ZTE Hytera and the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
Hikvision said in a statement that its products do not pose a threat to US security.
“This FCC decision does nothing to protect America’s national security, but it does a great job for US small businesses, local authorities, school districts, and private consumers to protect themselves, their homes, and make it more affordable. Businesses and property, Hikvision’s US customers are fully respected.” He said he will continue to serve.
Dahua said in a statement that the order “goes far beyond” the FCC’s statutory authority and does “little or nothing” to protect US national security. He emphasized that the FCC’s move would allow the company to sell previously approved products and obtain new licenses as long as they are not in the public safety, government facilities, critical infrastructure or national security markets.
“Given that Dahua products are not currently marketed for those purposes…, we are confident that this order will allow us to continue serving the majority of our US customers for years to come,” Dahua said.
Rosenworcel circulated the measure to the three commissioners for final approval last month.
The FCC said it is considering denying all device licenses to companies on its blacklist by June 2021.
In March 2021, the so-called “covered list” of five Chinese companies posed a threat to national security under the 2019 law to protect US communications networks: Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp Hikvision and Dahua.
All four commissioners at the agency, two Republicans and two Democrats, supported Friday’s action. The agency said it had the authority to revoke previously issued licenses but declined to do so, meaning sales of products currently approved in the United States could continue.