On 22 May 2025 (local time), the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously (4–0) adopted new rules aimed at preventing so-called “China and other untrustworthy actors” from controlling the testing and certification of wireless devices for the US. The core of the new rules: all laboratories and bodies involved in testing, reviewing and certifying US telecommunications equipment (TCBs, Telecommunication Certification Bodies) must not have ownership ties that could pose national security risks, in particular the potential risk of being controlled by “foreign adversaries”.
Background and scope of the new rules
-
The current certification system: under FCC rules, all electronic devices that emit radio frequency energy (such as IoT devices, smartphones and network equipment) must pass compliance testing by private test laboratories or certification bodies (TCBs) before entering the US market. About 75% of electronics imported into the US currently rely on Chinese laboratories for testing.
-
A shift in regulatory logic: previously, accreditation of these bodies focused on technical competence; the new rules for the first time make “trustworthiness” (especially ties to foreign governments or entities) a core assessment criterion.
US “national security” allegations and past measures
-
Basis of the allegations: the FCC claims that some Chinese laboratories are linked to state-owned enterprises, military-civil fusion institutions or the government, and could open gaps in US telecommunications infrastructure for “hostile forces” through device testing. For example, some laboratories have tested thousands of devices entering the US market.
-
Past cases: in recent years the FCC has repeatedly restricted Chinese companies on “national security” grounds – for example, in November 2022 it added Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision and others to the “Covered List”, banning their telecommunications equipment and video surveillance products from the US market.
Enforcement criteria and further measures
-
Compliance threshold: the new rules require laboratories and certification bodies to be recognised by the FCC, with reviews based on official US government security lists (such as the Department of Defense list of Chinese military companies and the Department of Commerce Entity List).
-
Next steps: the FCC is also advancing two proposals:
-
Extending the testing ban to all laboratories in China and other “foreign adversary” countries;
-
Requiring entities with significant ties to China or other adversaries to disclose all FCC licences and authorisations they hold.
Statement by the FCC Chairman
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stressed: “Laboratories are the ‘gatekeepers’ of US telecommunications infrastructure. If testing is carried out by untrustworthy bodies or those controlled by foreign adversaries, insecure devices could enter the market and threaten national security.”
Conclusion: the new rules are seen as another step in US technological “decoupling” from China and are expected to have a far-reaching impact on China–US trade in electronic equipment and on global supply chains. Chinese companies and testing bodies concerned should follow policy developments closely and plan their compliance responses in advance.
More articles:
The Free Sale Certificate (FSC): A “Passport” for Global Medical Device Trade
A Special Route for E-Cigarettes to Enter the EU Outside the TPD
