President Joe Biden Signs Legislation to Tighten US Restrictions on Huawei and ZTE

According to Reuters, the United States President Joe Biden has signed the Secure Equipment Act (the “Act”). The Act was approved unanimously by the United States Senate and by the United States House by a 420-4 vote. 

The Act aimed at Chinese telecommunications and technology companies, allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to no longer review or approve any authorisation application for equipment that poses an unacceptable risk to the United States’ national security.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the commission has approved more than 3,000 applications from Huawei since 2018. The law “will help to ensure that insecure gear from companies like Huawei and ZTE can no longer be inserted into America’s communications networks”, Carr said.

In March, the FCC designated Huawei and ZTE, as well as Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Zhejiang Dahua Technology as threats to the United States’ national security. Prior to the signing of the Act, the FCC took some measures in June to ban approvals for equipment in the United States telecommunications networks from Chinese companies. This move led Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson at China’s foreign ministry, to say that “The United States, without any evidence, still abuses national security and state power to suppress Chinese companies,” The FCC also voted to revoke the authorization for China Telecom’s U.S. subsidiary to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns.

The signing of the Act comes days before President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to hold a virtual summit. Is the United States trying to send a message? Contrivers Buzz would be on hand to catch up with further developments.

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