The US Federal Communications Commission, under chair Brendan Carr, is intensifying its crackdown on Chinese technology products — including drones and internet routers — citing national security risks, even as Washington and Beijing pursue a broader trade détente.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving to restrict a range of Chinese-made technology products from the US market, with chair Brendan Carr leading efforts to scrutinise goods on security grounds, according to reporting by the Financial Times.
The sweep targets consumer and commercial hardware including drones and routers — categories that US officials have repeatedly flagged as potential vectors for surveillance or data exfiltration by Chinese state-linked actors. Routers from companies such as TP-Link have already drawn congressional scrutiny, while Chinese drone manufacturer DJI remains on US government restricted lists.
The move comes at a notable moment in US-China relations. The two governments have recently signalled a willingness to ease trade tensions, with tariff negotiations showing some progress. Critics argue that sector-specific technology bans sit in tension with those broader diplomatic efforts, though the FCC and national security advocates maintain that trade and security concerns must be assessed separately.
Carr, a Republican appointed to lead the FCC, has made scrutiny of Chinese technology a central plank of his tenure. The FCC has authority over communications equipment sold and operated in the United States, giving it a regulatory lever distinct from the trade and export-control tools wielded by the Commerce Department.
The agency has previously revoked operating licences for Chinese state-owned telecoms carriers including China Telecom and China Unicom in the US, and has maintained a list of communications equipment and services deemed threats to national security under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act.
Proponents of the crackdown argue that Chinese-made networking hardware and connected devices could allow Beijing to intercept communications, track individuals, or disrupt critical infrastructure — risks they say cannot be adequately mitigated through software updates or contractual safeguards.
Chinese government officials and companies affected by such restrictions have consistently denied that their products pose security risks, characterising the measures as protectionist in nature and damaging to global supply chains.
The FCC's actions form part of a broader, bipartisan effort across US government agencies to limit Chinese technology in sensitive environments, an effort that has accelerated since restrictions on Huawei's 5G equipment were tightened during the Trump and Biden administrations.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- US consumers and businesses using Chinese-made routers or drones could face product bans or be required to replace existing equipment, with potential cost implications.
- The timing highlights a persistent tension in US policy: pursuing economic normalisation with China while simultaneously hardening technology and security barriers.
- Regulatory action by the FCC could set a precedent that encourages allied nations to follow with their own restrictions on Chinese communications hardware.
Background
US scrutiny of Chinese technology in communications infrastructure has built steadily over more than a decade. The Federal government began restricting Huawei and ZTE equipment from federal networks in 2012, and Congress passed the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act in 2019, which created the FCC's 'Covered List' of prohibited equipment.
Under both the Trump and Biden administrations, the scope of restrictions widened significantly — from 5G telecoms gear to consumer routers, surveillance cameras (notably Hikvision and Dahua), and drones. The Biden FCC moved to ban new authorisations for equipment from several Chinese firms. Brendan Carr, who became FCC chair in early 2025, has continued and expanded that trajectory.
The drone sector became a flashpoint after DJI — which holds a dominant share of the global consumer drone market — was placed on the US Defense Department's list of companies allegedly working with the Chinese military. Routers became a fresh concern after reports emerged in 2024 of alleged Chinese state-sponsored intrusions into US broadband infrastructure.
Key Perspectives
FCC and US Security Officials: Argue that Chinese-made communications hardware carries inherent risks of back-door access or data collection that serve Beijing's intelligence interests. They contend that security and trade policy must operate on separate tracks.
Chinese Government and Affected Companies: Deny security allegations and frame the restrictions as economically motivated protectionism. They argue such measures fragment global technology markets and undermine the rules-based trading system.
Critics of the Approach: Some trade policy analysts warn that blanket hardware bans, pursued while simultaneously negotiating tariff reductions, send contradictory signals to Beijing and US allies. Others argue the restrictions disadvantage American consumers and small businesses who rely on affordable Chinese-made networking equipment without clear evidence of active exploitation.
What to Watch
- Which specific product categories the FCC formally adds to its Covered List, and the timeline for compliance or phase-out requirements.
- Whether the US-China trade negotiations produce any diplomatic pushback against the technology restrictions, or whether the two tracks remain firmly separated.
- Congressional moves to legislate broader restrictions on Chinese networking hardware, which could accelerate or expand the FCC's regulatory reach.