FCC Shapes Washington’s China Technology Policy

The Federal Communications Commission has taken a larger role in the Trump administration’s technology policy towards China. The agency, traditionally responsible for spectrum allocation and broadcasting licences, has expanded its focus on supply chains and national security.

Under chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC has restricted imports of new Chinese drones, routers, inverters and robots. It has also begun efforts to prevent Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices, including smartphones, cameras and computers, for sale in the United States. The regulator is separately preparing possible restrictions on new Chinese data centre components.

American officials say the measures are intended to protect domestic infrastructure, reduce supply chain risks and support manufacturing in the United States. The proposed data centre restrictions are particularly relevant to infrastructure used for artificial intelligence. However, excluding established Chinese suppliers could increase costs or require American companies to identify alternative manufacturers.

The FCC’s rules generally avoid naming China directly. Instead, the agency restricts imports within selected technology categories before providing exemptions to suppliers from other countries. Officials familiar with the approach say this structure allows the administration to address security concerns while limiting wider disruption to relations with Beijing.

China opposes the measures, describing them as discriminatory towards Chinese businesses and potentially damaging to global supply chains. Beijing has tightened export controls on drones and other technology sent to the United States. It has also sanctioned an American testing and certification company.

The FCC’s actions come as Washington and Beijing attempt to manage broader trade tensions before a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. While the administration has eased some technology restrictions elsewhere, FCC measures have continued. The agency’s expanding role shows how communications regulation is becoming more closely connected to industrial policy, artificial intelligence infrastructure and economic competition between the two countries.