U.S. bans Huawei, Hikvision equipment, citing security risks ahead of Trump - Xi meet

The United States has announced a fresh ban on new telecommunications equipment from several major Chinese companies, including Huawei and Hikvision.

It cited national security risks as reason for the decision which comes just days before a highly anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said the move would prohibit the authorisation of new devices from Chinese manufacturers deemed to pose “unacceptable risks” to U.S. national security and critical infrastructure.

The decision expands existing restrictions by not only targeting telecoms and surveillance equipment but also tightening rules on Chinese-made components used in U.S. networks.

Under the new policy, companies such as Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hikvision, Dahua, and Hytera will no longer be able to sell new devices in the American market, even if they previously obtained partial approval under prior security reviews.

The FCC said the action was part of ongoing efforts to “protect the integrity of America’s communications networks from foreign adversaries.”

The timing of the ban is notable, coming just days before Trump and Xi are expected to meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Seoul.

The summit is being closely watched for signs of whether the world’s two largest economies can ease escalating trade and technology tensions.

Washington’s latest decision, however, could further strain the already fragile atmosphere surrounding the talks.

Chinese officials condemned the move, describing it as “an act of economic coercion and political manipulation.”

The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing accused Washington of “weaponising national security” to suppress Chinese enterprises, urging the U.S. to “stop politicising trade and technology cooperation.”

The United States has long accused Chinese telecoms and surveillance companies of posing potential espionage threats, alleging that their products could be used by Beijing to access sensitive data or compromise infrastructure.

Huawei and Hikvision have repeatedly denied these allegations, insisting their technologies meet international security standards and are not influenced by the Chinese government.

The latest restrictions add to years of U.S. efforts to curb China’s presence in key technology sectors.

Since 2019, Washington has barred American companies from doing business with Huawei without a license and pushed allies to exclude Chinese vendors from 5G networks.

The new measures extend those curbs to cover next generation networking equipment, surveillance systems, and smart devices.

The move highlights how deeply technology and security have become intertwined in US-China relations.

While both leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation and regional stability at the upcoming summit, the new ban signals Washington’s continued determination to limit China’s influence in critical industries, even as it seeks dialogue.

For U.S. tech firms and telecom operators, the tightened restrictions could complicate supply chains and raise costs, but officials insist that safeguarding national security outweighs short-term economic disruptions.

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