US Bans Imports of More Chinese Technology Goods — FCC Expands 2022 Restrictions to Older Equipment
The Federal Communications Commission has expanded its 2022 ban on Chinese-made equipment to cover older models, targeting five major manufacturers and citing national security risks.
What the FCC Has Done
The United States Federal Communications Commission announced on Friday that it will ban the import of additional equipment from a group of Chinese manufacturers, marking the latest escalation in Washington’s sustained effort to limit Chinese-made electronic gear within US communications networks.
The new order expands a ban originally imposed in 2022, which had restricted only new models of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment. The expanded ban now covers older models as well — equipment already in the marketplace before the 2022 cutoff — across a defined range of uses including public safety, government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security applications.
The ban is set to take effect in early July. Americans who already own the affected equipment will be permitted to continue using it. The FCC stated the action is necessary to protect national security by reducing risks to the US communications sector.
“This action is necessary to protect national security by mitigating risks to the U.S. communications sector.”
— Federal Communications Commission
The Five Targeted Companies
| HUAWEI | ZTE | HYTERA | HIKVISION | DAHUA |
| Telecom | Telecom | Comms | Surveillance | Surveillance |
The five companies named in the ban are Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua. All five were included in the original 2022 restriction. The Chinese Embassy in Washington and the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Pattern of Escalating Restrictions
| 2022 | Original FCC Ban
The FCC bans new models of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua, citing national security concerns. |
| OCT 2025 | FCC Votes to Expand Authority
The FCC votes 3–0 to block new approvals for devices containing parts from companies on its restricted list, and grants itself authority to bar previously approved equipment in certain cases. |
| DEC 2025 | Chinese Drone Ban
The FCC bans imports of all new models of Chinese-made drones — a significant expansion beyond the original telecom focus. |
| DEC 2025 | Hikvision Sues the FCC
Hikvision files a legal challenge against the October decision, arguing the agency exceeded its authority and lacked sufficient basis for the action. |
| MAR 2026 | Consumer Router Ban
The FCC bans imports of new models of Chinese-made consumer routers — the devices connecting homes and offices to the internet. |
| JUL 2026 | Expanded Ban Takes Effect
The new order extending the equipment ban to older models takes effect, covering public safety, government, and critical infrastructure surveillance uses. |
What Is Not Covered — Yet
The new order does not extend the import ban to older models of Chinese drones or consumer routers — those remain restricted only for new models under the December and March orders respectively.
However, the FCC is considering a far broader move: prohibiting US telecommunications carriers from interconnecting with Chinese telecom firms altogether. If enacted, this would effectively prevent Chinese telecoms from operating data centers on American soil — a step that would represent a significant escalation beyond equipment restrictions and into the infrastructure layer of the US internet.
The steady pace of FCC actions signals that Washington views Chinese-made communications technology as a persistent and growing national security concern — and that further restrictions are more a matter of when than if.
