The United States blocks Huawei and ZTE again

 

    In order to protect "national security", the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has just voted unanimously to ban all new products from several Chinese companies. The first ones concerned are Huawei and ZTE, already targeted by previous measures.

    By 2019, the Trump administration had blacklisted Huawei and ZTE, forcing Google, Intel and Qualcomm to end their business relationships with the two companies. Huawei found itself having to release Android smartphones without Google services and develop its own mobile operating system, HarmonyOS.

    This Friday, November 25, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) went further and prohibited any new authorization of equipment from several Chinese firms. This decision was justified on the basis of "national security considerations".

A historic decision:

     "The FCC is committed to protecting our national security by ensuring that the use of unreliable communications equipment is not allowed within our borders, and we are continuing that work here," said FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC's decision again targets Huawei and ZTE. It also names Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua, manufacturers of video surveillance equipment, unless they can prove that "their equipment will not be used for public safety, government facility security and other national security purposes."

    However, this decision only concerns new equipment. The Chinese companies mentioned will be able to continue to sell the equipment already authorized on American soil. The FCC has nevertheless granted itself the right to revoke the authorizations already granted, and could therefore potentially ban all products from Huawei and ZTE in the future.