Many companies around the world, not just the US, outsource production and manufacturing to countries like China. However, the Trump administration has been cracking down on that with tariffs in a bid to bring back more jobs to the US. Now, it looks like the FCC is stepping in in an attempt to stop China from accessing US tech.
FCC wants to stop China from accessing US tech
As reported by Reuters, the FCC recently voted to bar labs in China from testing tech made for use in the US. For those unfamiliar, devices that emit radio frequencies, like our phones, tablets, routers, laptops, and more, that are sold in the US need to be approved by the FCC first.
This involves sending devices to labs for testing to ensure they meet the FCC’s requirements. As it turns out, 75% of US-bound devices are tested in labs in China. These labs were previously approved by the FCC. However, the proposal wants the entity to strip all labs in China and Hong Kong of that accreditation.
This is an escalation of a move by the FCC last year. Back in 2025, the FCC banned testing in labs that were owned or controlled by the Chinese government. The move led to about 23 labs being banned. However, it still left a lot of other labs in operation. With the proposal, the FCC wants to create a more streamlined approval process. This involves testing in labs based in the US or other countries not deemed national security risks.
What it means for US companies
The decision by the FCC will have a financial impact on US companies. It is estimated that FCC certification testing at Chinese labs costs between $400 and $1,300. However, testing in a US lab is significantly more expensive at around $3,000 to $4,000. This means that products might see an increase in price because it means more costs.
Of course, this is by no means a guarantee, but what company would be willing to absorb the costs at the expense of its profits, right? That being said, some companies have already made the move to other countries. The list includes SpaceX and Apple, who have shifted certification work to Japan and the UK. It is also expected that Taiwan could be a potential country for testing.
The post The FCC Just Voted to Block China from Testing Your Tech, and It Could Cost You More appeared first on Android Headlines.
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